Lintong Pomegranates

Lintong Pomegranates

Lintong pomegranates are a protected geographical indication product.

Lintong pomegranates are a certified geographical indication trademark.

Lintong pomegranates are an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Lintong pomegranates have a long history. When first introduced, they were planted in the “Shanglin Garden” within the imperial garden of the capital Chang’an (now Xi’an) and in the hot spring palace on Mount Li (now Huaqing Pool), where they were enjoyed by princes and concubines. The Eastern Jin Dynasty poet Pan Yue praised them as “the most extraordinary tree under heaven and a renowned fruit across the nine provinces.” By the Tang Dynasty, pomegranate cultivation around Chang’an had reached a considerable scale. Lintong is located 25 kilometers east of Chang’an, nestled against Mount Li to the south and stretching across the Wei River to the north. Its natural conditions are ideal for pomegranate growth, and through years of cultivation, premium Lintong pomegranate varieties have been developed.

　　There are 17 varieties of Lintong pomegranates, which can be divided into two main categories based on plant vigor, leaf size, fruit color, and taste—sweet or sour: common pomegranates (for consumption) and flowering pomegranates (for ornamental purposes). Within these two categories, they are further distinguished as red or white: red pomegranates feature red-tipped shoots, stems, flowers, fruits, skins, and seeds; white pomegranates, similar to red ones in shoots and leaves, have yellowish-white flowers, skins, and seeds. Common pomegranates can also be grouped by juice content into sweet and sour varieties. Among the sweet types are three major varieties: “Lintong Clean-Skin Sweet,” “Lintong Sky-Red Egg,” and “Lintong Lu Yu Egg.” The sour types include two major varieties: “Big Red Sour” and “Lu Yu Sour.” Currently, there is only one sweet variety among the common white pomegranates, known as “Lintong Three Whites,” named for its white petals, skin, and seeds.

　　Lintong pomegranates are a famous specialty of Shaanxi Province. They represent the best of China’s pomegranates and are renowned for their bright color, large size, thin skin, abundant juice, sweet taste, soft seeds, minimal residue, and superior quality. Ranked first among China’s top five pomegranates, they are considered a rare fruit delicacy. Historically served as tribute to emperors, they enjoy nationwide fame and international renown.

　　Lintong pomegranates are primarily grown on the northern slopes of Mount Li, around the Huaqing Pool area, and near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. Stretching approximately 15 kilometers from Xinfeng and Mount Li in the east, through Xiekou, Chengguan, and Daiwang, to Pomegranate Valley in the west, the 120,000-plus-acre region has become the largest pomegranate production base in China, yielding about 100,000 tons of pomegranates annually.

　　After more than 2,000 years of cultivation and selective breeding, Lintong pomegranates now comprise dozens of distinctive and high-quality varieties. These include both edible varieties with plump, juicy, and delicious seeds, and ornamental varieties with vibrant, red-and-green blossoms. There are over 10 edible varieties, divided into sweet and sour categories. Among the sour types, “Big Red Sour” and “Lu Yu Egg” are the finest, featuring large fruits, full seeds, rich juice, and a tangy flavor—the largest can weigh around 500 grams. Sour pomegranates from Qian County in Shaanxi are also well-known for their pleasant sweet-and-sour taste and fragrant aroma. Among the sweet types, “Big Red Sweet,” “Clean-Skin Sweet,” and “Three Whites Sweet” are the best. The first two varieties have red or pink skins with large, soft seeds and sweet, juicy flesh. The “Three Whites Sweet” earns its name from its white petals, skin, and seeds, with a predominantly sweet flavor. It is characterized by thin skin, soft seeds, abundant juice, pure sweetness, good storage qualities, and excellent overall quality. Locals also call it the “soft-seed pomegranate” or “rock sugar pomegranate,” ranking it at the top of the sweet pomegranate varieties.

　　Lintong pomegranates are highly nutritious, containing 11%–14% sugar, 0.4%–1.0% fruit acid, 79% water, and 0.6% each of protein and fat. Their vitamin C content is 2–3 times that of apples and pears, and they are especially rich in phosphorus, with 145 mg per 100 grams—among the highest in fruits. They also contain carbohydrates, iron, calcium, and other minerals. The seeds are delicious, with 36%–61% juice content. Their aroma and mild tartness help stimulate saliva, aid digestion, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and improve appetite. They also nourish yin, soothe the liver, support kidney health, and improve vision. They are also an excellent ingredient for making sugar, fruit syrups, wine, vinegar, and premium refreshing beverages.

　　Lintong pomegranates are also a commonly used folk medicine capable of treating various ailments. The peel, flowers, leaves, and roots can all be used medicinally. They are sweet, sour, warm, and astringent in nature, non-toxic, and contain various alkaloids and tannins. The *Supplement to the Materia Medica* states that they can “treat dysentery and stop seminal emission.” *Luo’s Medical Compendium* notes: “Pomegranate peel, being sour and astringent, helps stop diarrhea, treats dysentery, bloody stools, uterine bleeding, prolapsed anus, and seminal emission.” The *Compendium of Materia Medica* says it “relieves hunger and thirst, sobers up the intoxicated, and stops drunkenness.” The fruit is rich in punicic acid, which is warm and astringent, moisturizing yet contracting, making it useful for treating gastrointestinal diseases, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. The peel contains multiple alkaloids—including punicine, methylpunicine, isopunicine, methylisopunicine, and pseudopunicine—totaling 1.8%. It can treat tonsillitis, oral inflammation, enteritis, biliary tract infections, tracheitis, pneumonia, chronic appendicitis, wound infections, chronic cough due to deficiency-cold, uterine bleeding, and intestinal tapeworms. Pomegranate seeds also show some efficacy against tapeworms, ginger slice worms, hookworms, roundworms, and toothache. The flowers can treat hematemesis, nosebleeds, and persistent discharge from otitis media. The roots also help expel tapeworms. The leaves can treat eye conditions. However, pomegranates can weaken lung qi, so overconsumption is not advised.

　　The flourishing of pomegranates in Lintong is closely tied to its unique geography and climate. Backed by Mount Li and facing the Wei River and the vast Guanzhong Plain, Lintong also benefits from hot springs. Its climate is mild, rainfall moderate, and fog rare during the flowering season. Most pomegranates are planted on the soft, sandy, well-drained soil of the northern slopes of Mount Li. The evaporation of water from the Wei River and hot springs increases air humidity, while the large diurnal temperature variation in summer further enhances growing conditions. These favorable soil and climatic factors have provided an optimal environment for pomegranate growth, sustaining the tradition through generations. Local farmers have carefully selected and cultivated the best plants over time, leading to increasingly superior pomegranate varieties in Lintong, renowned both domestically and internationally.

　　After Lintong pomegranates were introduced to Beijing’s Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in 1977, they were also planted in iconic locations such as Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Zhongnanhai, and Summer Palace, as well as many corporate campuses. In recent years, provinces including Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Liaoning have imported Lintong pomegranate saplings for orchard development. In recent years, the long-renowned Lintong pomegranates have gained even greater popularity. The pomegranate flower has been designated as the city flower of Xi’an. To promote tourism and satisfy the desire of locals and visitors to enjoy pomegranates, the Xi’an Municipal Government decided to hold the “Lintong Pomegranate Festival” every September starting in 1991. The festival features diverse and engaging activities in the pomegranate-growing regions. Beautiful “Pomegranate Fairies,” holding bright red pomegranates, warmly welcome domestic and international tourists.