Kalabula Apples

Kalabula Apples

Kalabula Apples are a product with geographical indication status.

　　According to research by experts both in China and abroad, the wild apples of Ili are the ancestors of modern cultivated apples. As one of the world’s rare habitats for wild apples and a region once renowned across Xinjiang as the “Hometown of Apples,” historical records indicate that during the early years of the People’s Republic of China, 98 varieties and strains of apples were cultivated over the long term in the Ili River Valley. As remnants of the tertiary-era ancient temperate broad-leaved forests, wild apples have a history of more than 20 million years. Among Xinjiang apples, those from Ili are especially famous, and within Ili, the apples of Xinyuan County are the most renowned. The Ili River Valley has a long history of apple cultivation, with premium varieties and abundant yields—some of which are rarely seen even within China. Xinyuan County still preserves over 100,000 acres of relatively well-preserved wild fruit forests, hailed as the “World Origin of Apple Species” and the “China Wild Fruit Gene Bank,” with an annual wild fruit yield exceeding 3,500 tons. Ancient people also referred to apples as nài (柰), línqín (林檎), and píngpó (苹婆), while in Turkic, apples are called alma. Ili has many place names related to apples: Almali Township in Xinyuan County, Almali Village in Mohur Township of Gongliu County... In the 3rd century, Guo Gongyi of the Western Jin Dynasty recorded in his book Guangzhi (广志): “Nài comes in white, green, and red varieties. Zhangye has white nài, Jiuquan has red nài, and the West has many nài trees. Every household pickles fruit preserves to eat, calling them ‘píngpó grain.’” This seems to describe a route by which apple cultivation spread from the Tianshan area to the Hexi Corridor and then further into inland China. “Upon exiting the Yin Mountains, there is the city of Alimala. Westerners call línqín ‘Alimala,’ and the surrounding areas are all orchards of línqín, hence the name.” In the early 13th century, Yelü Chucai accompanied Genghis Khan on his western campaign. When passing through Ili, he left this record in his work Xiyu Lu (西游录). Just beyond the exit of the Guozigou Valley, about 15 kilometers from today’s Khorgas Port, was the city of Alimala at the time. Surrounded by this apple-named city were numerous apple orchards. Kalabula Apples are well-shaped, brightly colored, and deliciously sweet, making them highly favored by consumers both domestically and in Central Asia.

　　Region: Xinjiang

　　Applicant: Enterprise Management Station of Kalabula Town, Xinyuan County

　　Year Designated: 2013

　　Geographical Scope

　　Kalabula Apples are produced in Kalabula Town, Xinyuan County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Kalabula Town is located in the western part of Xinyuan County’s administrative area. It is 55.5 kilometers east of Xinyuan County’s seat and 26 kilometers west of Gongliu County’s seat, commonly known as the “Western Gateway” of Xinyuan County. To the east, it neighbors Xiao’erbulake Town and Xinyuan Prison; to the southeast, it borders Xinyuan Horse Farm; to the south, it abuts the Jiaguer Mountain Range, neighboring Gongliu County; to the west, it faces Gongliu County across the Tekes River; to the northwest, it connects with Gongnaisi Sheep Breeding Farm; and to the north, it reaches the Gongnaisi River. The protected geographical indication area for Kalabula Apples includes the land under the current jurisdiction of Kalabula Village, Kuntuobie Village, Kaimai’awuzi Village, Keziletale Village, Aketogan Village, Akeyoi Village, Jiyeke Village, and Akeqi Village. The geographical coordinates are between 43°03′ and 43°40′ north latitude and 82°28′ and 84°56′ east longitude, with an elevation of 792–850 meters. The protected area for Kalabula Apples covers 15,685.7 mu (approximately 1,045 hectares), with an annual production totaling 53,956 metric tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: Kalabula Apples are large, well-shaped, and visually appealing, with an average single fruit weight of 180–300 grams and a maximum single fruit weight of over 400 grams. The fruit surface is bright red, smooth, and fine-textured. The taste is pleasantly sweet and slightly acidic, with low fiber content, fine texture, and a strong aromatic flavor, indicating excellent quality. These apples are highly resistant to storage and transport and can be kept until April or May of the following year. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Kalabula Apples are nutritionally rich. Each 100 grams contains total sugars between 8.6–12.9 grams, total acid between 5.2–6.7 (g/kg), vitamin C up to 9–11 milligrams, vitamin B1 between 0.001–0.006 milligrams, vitamin B2 between 0.002–0.007 milligrams, calcium between 40–50 milligrams per kilogram, phosphorus between 50–60 milligrams per kilogram, iron between 0.2–1.2 milligrams per kilogram, potassium between 1100–1300 milligrams per kilogram, and zinc between 0.2–1.3 milligrams per kilogram. (3) Safety Requirements: Kalabula Apples are strictly produced in accordance with the safety standards outlined in the “Pollution-Free Food Apple” (NY5011-2001) guidelines.