Qiaojia Pomegranates

Qiaojia Pomegranates

　　Pomegranate, originally known as “An Shi.” According to the Classic of Flowers, the fruit was brought back by Zhang Qian during his mission to the Western Regions from Anshi Kingdom (modern-day western Iran), hence the name “An Shi.” Historically, famous pomegranate-producing regions in China include Qiaojia in Yunnan, Lintong in Shaanxi, Huai’an in Anhui, Jinan in Shandong, and Huili in Sichuan; Qiaojia ranked first.

Qiaojia has a long history of pomegranate cultivation, vast suitable growing areas, a wide variety of cultivars, and premium fruit quality, earning its pomegranates a reputation as treasures among the fruit. The Draft Annals of Qiaojia County from the Republican Era recorded: “Thirty li north of the county seat lies Qiaojia Camp, where the land is ideal for fruit trees, and pomegranates are the local specialty. The fruits are large, sweet, and delicious, highly sought after far and wide. Local residents widely plant orchards for their livelihoods, hence pomegranate trees abound. When the pomegranate blossoms are in full bloom, they look like brocade and rosy clouds.” “Red Pomegranates in the Northern Orchard” was one of the scenic highlights of old Qiaojia.

Pomegranates thrive in environments with ample sunlight and mild, warm temperatures. Qiaojia Camp sits at an elevation of 800–1200 meters, with an average annual temperature of 16°C–20°C, winter temperatures between 8°C–10°C, over 2000 hours of sunshine per year, annual rainfall of 900–1100 mm, and no frost throughout the year—providing ideal conditions for pomegranate growth. When the pomegranates are in bloom and pollination occurs, it’s the bright and mild mid-spring season; when the fruits form and ripen, it coincides with the hot and rainy season. This optimal combination of factors creates ideal conditions for both the growth of the fruit and the high sugar conversion later on.

Qiaojia pomegranates come in varieties such as Agate, Red Robe, Rosy Glow, Sticky Rice, and White Flower, among which Agate and Red Robe are considered the best in quality, hailed as “divine-grade” and “supreme-grade.” Average yield per tree exceeds 80 kg, with average fruit weight around 200 grams and maximum fruit weight over 900 grams. The fruits are flat-round with distinct ridges, thin skin, large seeds, soft kernels, juicy flesh, sweet taste, refreshing flavor, and are as pleasant as candy, packed with nutrition. Testing data shows that Qiaojia pomegranates contain 9.37% sugar, 0.60% acid, along with fat, vitamin C, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other trace elements, offering benefits such as enriching blood, stimulating appetite, and aiding digestion.

Every part of the pomegranate is valuable. Pomegranate trees can absorb harmful substances in the air such as fluorine and sulfur, purifying the atmosphere. Pomegranate peel contains tannins, tannic acid, and pomegranate bark alkaloids, which have medicinal properties for astringing the intestines to stop diarrhea, stopping bleeding, and expelling parasites. It can be used to treat chronic diarrhea, red dysentery, rectal prolapse, bloody stools, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, and abdominal pain caused by intestinal parasites. The root bark of the pomegranate tree also has parasite-expelling effects and is clinically used to treat pinworm and roundworm conditions. Industrially, tannins can serve as raw materials for leather tanning and as dyes. With its graceful branches and leaves, bright flowers, and long blooming period, the pomegranate tree is undoubtedly also an excellent ornamental plant.