Chenggu Honey Tangerine

Chenggu Honey Tangerine

Chenggu Honey Tangerine is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Chenggu Honey Tangerine is a product certified under China’s Agricultural Geographic Indication system.

　　Chenggu has a long history of citrus cultivation, dating back over 2,000 years. Chenggu citrus is sweet yet slightly acidic, with a unique flavor and excellent quality, making it especially popular among consumers in northern China, particularly in the northwest. The vigorous development of the citrus industry has effectively fostered the growth of competitive industries and increased farmers’ incomes. The county’s total citrus planting area exceeds 200,000 mu, with 16 towns, 209 administrative villages, 55,000 households, and 149,000 farmers engaged in citrus cultivation. Over 100,000 mu of citrus have obtained national green food certification, and 2,000 mu have passed the National Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification. Two municipal and provincial-level citrus agricultural industrialization leading enterprises—Pan-Asia and Dongsheng—have been cultivated, along with more than 10 citrus cooperatives such as Huayuan, Zhengjiapo, and Sanhe. The citrus industry has become the most profitable and promising specialty sector in the county’s rural economy.

　　Per 100 grams of edible portion, Chenggu citrus contains 0.05 mg riboflavin, 0.3 mg niacin, 16 mg vitamin C (ascorbic acid), 0.9 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 12 g sugar, 0.2 g crude fiber, 0.4 g inorganic salts, 26 mg calcium, 15 mg phosphorus, 0.2 mg iron, and 221.9 joules of energy. The beta-carotene (provitamin A) content in its juice is second only to apricots and higher than that of other fruits. Citrus also contains various vitamins, as well as elements such as potassium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and silicon.

　　Hanzhong’s Chenggu County has been producing “tribute tangerines” since ancient times and is reputed as the “Hometown of Tangerines.” It is the world’s only optimal growing region for “sweet-sour” citrus. Varieties that have obtained national green food registration certification include “Zhang Qian Honey Tangerine,” “Shengxian Honey Orange,” and “Hanjiang Honey Orange.” Chenggu citrus is known for its uniquely sweet yet subtly tangy flavor and refreshing taste, along with early maturation. Autumn is the peak season for ripe oranges, making them freshest when purchased at this time. Visitors can also pick oranges in person at Chenggu’s orchards—affordable and delicious.

　　Distinctive Quality Characteristics

　　Bright color, smooth fruit surface, rich flavor, balanced sweet-and-sour taste, crisp and tender flesh, fragrant and refreshing, easy to separate flesh from peel

　　Cultural Anecdotes

　　Citrus is a traditional specialty industry in Chenggu with a long cultivation history of up to 2,000 years. Chenggu citrus is renowned across northern China for its early maturation, good coloration, balanced sweet-and-sour flavor, and intense fruit taste.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Chenggu Honey Tangerine covers fourteen administrative regions within Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province: Juyuan Town, Yuangong Town, Wenchuan Town, Laozhuang Town, Baoshan Town, Wulang Township, Longtou Town, Cuijiashan Town, Bowang Town, Shaheying Town, Liulin Town, Sanhe Township, Dongjiaying Township, and Shangyuanguan Town. The total production area spans 16,700 hectares, with an annual yield of 220,000 tons. This region lies between 107°03′–107°30′ east longitude and 32°45′–33°40′ north latitude, at an average elevation of 800 meters. The county borders Yang County to the east, Hantai and Liuba Counties to the west, and Nanzheng and Xixiang Counties to the south. The main citrus-producing areas within the county stretch from Baoshan Town in the east to Wenchuan Town in the west, and from Juyuan Town in the north to Dongjiaying Township in the south.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic-Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Chenggu County features higher terrain in the north and lower in the south, divided into three major geomorphic zones: southern, central, and northern. The south and north are part of the Qinba mountainous hills region, while the center consists of river plain and dam areas. The arable soil is primarily loamy, with deep layers, organic matter content exceeding 1.5%, rich in phosphorus and potassium, and pH values ranging from 5.5 to 7.2. The groundwater level is relatively low, giving the soil good water and fertilizer retention capacity. Heavy metal content such as cadmium and arsenic in the soil is below the required thresholds for green citrus production.

　　(2) Hydrology: Chenggu County boasts an excellent ecological environment, with forest coverage reaching 54%, fresh air, and clean water. The Han River—the largest tributary of the Yangtze—runs east-west through the county, providing abundant water resources. The main irrigation source for the production area is the Suxi River. There are no large industrial enterprises in the county, and small and medium-sized mining and manufacturing businesses are also scarce. The irrigation water is of good quality, unpolluted, and provides favorable conditions for Chenggu Honey Tangerine production.

　　(3) Climate: Chenggu County has a northern subtropical humid monsoon climate. The annual average temperature is 14.3–15°C, with accumulated temperatures above 10°C exceeding 4,800. Annual precipitation ranges from 800 to 1,000 mm, relative humidity is around 74%, annual sunshine duration exceeds 1,500 hours, and the frost-free period lasts 218–238 days. During the citrus maturation season (autumn), temperatures drop early and the diurnal temperature variation exceeds 12°C.

　　(4) Humanistic-Historical Background: Chenggu is the hometown of Zhang Qian, the famous Western Han dynasty diplomat and pioneer of the Silk Road, and thus possesses profound cultural and historical heritage. Citrus has long been a traditional specialty industry in Chenggu, with a cultivation history traceable to the Han dynasty—over 2,000 years ago. “Records of the Grand Historian • Treatise on Trade” noted: “Thousands of citrus trees in Shu, Han, and Jiangling... their yields equaled those of a noble with a thousand households.” This indicates that citrus cultivation in the Han River basin of southern Shaanxi was already established and valued by ancient people. Additionally, the “New Book of Tang • Geography” by Ouyang Xiu of the Song dynasty recorded: “Xingyuan Prefecture produced tribute tangerines.” Xingyuan Prefecture included Chenggu and areas to its west, showing the high quality of citrus from Hanzhong and Chenggu at that time. In the 56th year of the Kangxi reign (1717), Chenggu citrus was described as “superior to that of other counties” (Kangxi-era “Chenggu Annals” and “Re-engraved Hanzhong Prefecture Annals”). By the 31st year of the Guangxu reign (1905), Chenggu produced “hundreds of thousands of tangerines and oranges annually near Shengxian Valley in the northern part of the county, which were sold throughout Hanzhong Prefecture and transported inland, as well as 10,000 jin of citrus peels per year” (“Chenggu Local Annals”). These records fully demonstrate Chenggu’s long-standing and high-quality citrus cultivation tradition.

　　In 2001, Chenggu was named “China’s Hometown of Citrus” by the National Forestry Department. In 2002, varieties produced in Chenggu—“Miyagawa,” “Okitsu,” and “Chengmi 02”—were recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Citrus Nursery Stock Quality Supervision and Testing Center as “high-quality fruit,” and awarded both “High-Quality Fruit Certificates” and “Variety Registration Certificates.” In 2005, at the Beijing International Agricultural Products Trade Fair, Chenggu citrus was awarded the “Best-Selling Product Prize.” From 2003 to 2007, 100,000 mu of green citrus bases successfully obtained green fruit base certification and Grade A product certification from the National Green Food Development Center.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Site Selection: Orchards should be established in areas with loose, fertile soil, organic matter content above 1.5 g/kg, soil layer over 80 cm, loamy, sandy loam, or light clay texture, soil pH between 5.5–7.2, and groundwater level below 1 meter. The environmental conditions of the production site must meet the requirements of the NY5013—2006 standard for non-polluting fruit tree production environments.

　　(2) Variety Selection: Ultra-early ripening varieties: Rinan No.1, Dapu, Yamakawa, Ichibun, etc. Early ripening

　　varieties: Shinkan, Miyagawa, Yamashita Red, etc. Mid-to-late ripening varieties: Chenggu Bingtang Tangerine, Vermilion Tangerine, etc.

　　(3) Production Process Management: Chenggu Honey Tangerine follows the requirements of the NY/T5015-2002 non-polluting citrus production technical regulations.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing: Harvesting should be done at the appropriate time, in batches, graded, and using the double-cut method to avoid fruit damage.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: The entire production process of Chenggu Honey Tangerine requires the establishment of field production records, with comprehensive documentation and proper preservation for future reference.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Chenggu Honey Tangerine fruits are flat-round, with dignified shape, smooth surface, medium-to-small size, bright orange or orange-red color, and thin, easily separable peel.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: The fruit has tender, juicy, and easily separable flesh, with a balanced sweet-and-sour taste and rich flavor. Soluble solids content is 11–12%, total acid is 0.62 g/100 ml, solid-acid ratio is 17.4, edible rate exceeds 72%, vitamin C content is 30.27 mg/100 ml, reducing sugar is 2.94 g/100 ml, invert sugar is 9.5 g/100 ml, and total sugar is 9.17 g/100 ml.

　　(3) Safety requirements: Chenggu Honey Oranges comply with the hygiene standards for citrus fruits in the Non-polluting Food Citrus Fruit Category (NY5014-2005).

　　Packaging and labeling regulations

　　After strict grading and quality inspection according to standards, Chenggu Honey Oranges are uniformly packaged with the Chenggu Honey Orange packaging label. A credit card system is implemented, meaning each box includes a product credit card printed with information such as origin (township, village group, farmer’s name), variety, grade, and quantity, to ensure fruit quality.

　　(1) Fruit selection and grading: According to the national standard "Fresh Citrus Fruits" (GB/T12947-91), Chenggu Honey Oranges (Chenggu Citrus) are divided into three grades: premium, first-class, and second-class.

　　(2) Packaging: The provisions of "Packaging for Apples and Citrus Fruits" (GB/T13607-92) are followed.

　　(3) Labeling: The packaging labels for the same batch of Chenggu Honey Oranges must be completely uniform in form and content. Labeling includes the "Chenggu Honey Oranges" geographical indication for agricultural products, as well as grade, origin, net weight, shipper’s name, packaging date, and selector code. If there is a regulation on fruit count, the number of fruits packed should also be indicated.

　　(4) Storage and transportation: Storage and transportation follow the "Guidelines for Storage and Transportation of Green Food" (NY/T1056-2006).