Gaotai Honey Pomelo

Gaotai Honey Pomelo

　　The World’s Rare and Extra-Large Fruit – Gaotai Honey Pomelo. Also known as "Pinghe Pao," the Gaotai Honey Pomelo originated in the Xipuzhou area of Fujian Province, China, and has been cultivated for over 500 years, making it a traditional and prestigious delicacy. Among pomelos, it is hailed as the "King of Pomelos." Throughout history, countless celebrities have fallen in love with it at first sight. As early as the Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, it was listed as a tribute fruit to the imperial court. In 1982, it was designated as a rare fruit at a national expert evaluation meeting for famous fruits. In 1988, after tasting this honey pomelo, the late Professor Wu Gengmin, a renowned citrus authority in China, was astonished and praised it as the "Crown of Pomelos." In 1989, the pomelo participated in the National Quality Fruit Evaluation and ranked first among 19 samples, being recognized as a high-quality fruit by the Ministry of Agriculture. In November 1999, it won the National Gold Award at the National "Spark Program" Achievements Expo. The Gaotai Honey Pomelo tree has a naturally round, open canopy with dense foliage and particularly vigorous growth. Its leaves are broad and lanceolate, with exceptional beauty. The rind is pale yellow, and the fruit is exceptionally large, typically weighing between 3 to 5 pounds per piece. Larger ones can weigh 6 to 7 pounds, and the biggest can exceed 10 pounds. The skin is smooth, finely textured, and thin—about one centimeter—with a soft, easy-to-peel quality. Each fruit contains 12 to 17 segments shaped like half moons. The juice vesicles are columnar and spindle-shaped, ranging from wax yellow to light pink in color, crystal clear and glossy. About one-third to two-thirds of the vesicles are arranged horizontally in a mixed pattern. The edible portion is 60–70%, with a juice yield of 56–68%. The juice has soluble solids content of 9–12%. It is highly nutritious: 100 milliliters contain 0.6–1 gram of total acid, 31–33 milligrams of vitamin C, and various other elements. The flesh is tender, juicy, and seedless, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture, a well-balanced sweet-and-sour flavor, and a refreshing aroma. It is easy to eat and leaves a lingering taste that makes people feel, “Once you’ve tried it, you’ll think about it for ten years.” It is often referred to as “nature’s canned fruit.” The honey pomelo matures in late September each year and does not crack. It is highly resistant to storage and transport. Cultivation of this pomelo began in our region in 1996. Due to its outstanding productivity and commercial value, the local planting area quickly expanded to 3,000 mu within just a few years, with an annual yield of over 200 tons. Plans are underway to expand cultivation by another 5,000 mu within five years, aiming for an annual production of 10,000 tons.