Weishan Preserved Fruits

Weishan Preserved Fruits

　　Preserved fruits are a long-renowned specialty product of Weishan. During the Qing Dynasty, they were even presented as tribute to the imperial court in Beijing. In the Republican era, Yang Xisheng, a British Christian missionary who lived in Weishan, would bring Weishan preserved fruits back to his home country every year during his home leave, gifting them to archbishops and friends. The origins of preserved fruits can be traced back to Taoist medicinal health foods. They are made from the roots, flowers, and fruits of natural plants, processed and soaked in Chinese honey, then dried in the sun. Preserved fruits have health benefits: locust fruit preserved fruits can relieve coughs and cleanse the lungs, winter melon preserved fruits can soothe the throat and dissolve phlegm, sand ginseng preserved fruits can refresh and invigorate, while orange cakes are cooling and refreshing. There is a wide variety of preserved fruits, including more than 20 types such as sand ginseng, winter melon, locust fruit, olives, citrons, ginger flowers, yellow plums, bean threads, and figs—making them an excellent choice for home use, travel, or as gifts for family and friends.

　　Visiting Weishan, a national historical and cultural city, you’ll find a dazzling array of local snacks that are a true delight for your taste buds, and Weishan preserved fruits are among the most famous local specialties.

　　Weishan preserved fruits are long-lasting, easy to store, and convenient to carry, making them a great choice for home use, travel, or as gifts for loved ones.

　　Weishan preserved fruits have a long history. Originally crafted as health tonics by Taoist priests from Weibaoshan, they have been around for over 300 years. It’s said that during the Guangxu period, Taoist Xiong from Weibaoshan passed on the technique of making preserved fruits to a close friend. Since then, the art of making preserved fruits has spread among the people of Weishan.

　　Weishan preserved fruits are exquisitely crafted. The ingredients used include fruits, melons, flowers, and roots with medicinal properties, combined with premium local honey and refined through traditional methods involving ash treatment, rinsing, boiling, and sun-drying. Over generations of refinement and innovation, there are now over 30 varieties, including winter melon, sand ginseng, olives, locust fruit, orange cakes, ginger flowers, papaya, figs, and citrons. Weishan preserved fruits perfectly integrate shape, color, aroma, and taste—appearing with soft, translucent hues; exuding a rich, sweet honey fragrance; and offering a delightful, soothing flavor that lingers on the palate.

　　Weishan preserved fruits also offer medicinal benefits. Not only do they taste good and are highly nutritious, but they are also typical green, eco-friendly foods with certain therapeutic properties. For example: winter melon preserved fruits moisten the lungs and dissolve phlegm, while clearing heat and reducing swelling; sand ginseng preserved fruits invigorate the spleen and boost energy; olives clear heat, promote body fluids, and soothe the throat; locust fruit clears heat, moistens the intestines, cools the blood, and stops bleeding; asparagus root nourishes yin, clears heat, relieves thirst, and promotes body fluids; orange cakes regulate qi, dissolve phlegm, relieve coughs, and stimulate appetite; papaya relaxes tendons and activates collaterals, while harmonizing the stomach and warming the middle; and citrons aid digestion and reduce bloating.