Fojianxi Pear of Maoshanhou

Fojianxi Pear of Maoshanhou

The Fojianxi pear of Maoshanhou is a product with geographical indication status.

　　The Fojianxi pear is a unique variety of pear, medium-sized with a reddish surface. According to records from the Beijing Forestry Bureau, “the Fojianxi pear is only found in the eastern part of Pinggu and is an endangered variety.” The pear resembles an apple—it is neither an apple pear nor a hongxiao pear, but a truly unique variety.

　　In short, the Fojianxi pear is “pleasant to the ear, pleasing to the eye, and delicious to the taste.” First, the name “Fojianxi pear” sounds appealing. The origin of the name has historical and cultural background. It is said that during the late Qing Dynasty, this pear was offered as tribute to the imperial palace. After tasting it, the Empress Dowager Cixi was greatly pleased and specially named it “Fojianxi pear,” symbolizing high quality as an imperial tribute. Since then, the name “Fojianxi pear” has been widely known. Second, the pear has an attractive shape. The Fojianxi pear sits sturdily upright, resembling a contented, plump Buddha with a large belly and an air of fortune. Third, it tastes great. The Fojianxi pear is crisp, juicy, and fine-textured without being dry. Its sweetness is well-balanced, making it pleasant to eat even in larger quantities.

　　Specific natural conditions create local specialties, and the unique environment of Maoshanhou Village gives rise to the Fojianxi pear. Though neighboring villages also grow Fojianxi pear trees or have transplanted them directly from Maoshanhou, the taste of their fruit differs greatly. There are three main reasons for this. First, the unique terrain creates a microclimate within the village. Maoshanhou Village is surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and north sides, with the southern part being lower and serving as the entrance. The village area is shaped like a “gourd,” narrow at the south and wide at the north, with a narrow entrance and a spacious interior. This forms a localized microclimate with large day-night temperature differences, allowing the fruit to accumulate sugar and resulting in the sweet taste of the Fojianxi pear. Second, the widespread sloped land prevents waterlogging. Compared to flat land, which is lower and prone to waterlogging during heavy summer rains—turning dry fields into waterlogged ones and greatly compromising fruit taste—the advantages of sloped land are obvious. Almost all the land in Maoshanhou Village consists of mountainous and forested areas with noticeable slopes. During heavy rains, water can drain down the slopes, completely preventing waterlogging and significantly improving taste. Moreover, water cisterns are set up at the tops of most slopes in the village, allowing trees to be watered at any time during dry spells, thus reducing constraints from natural conditions. Third, the soil is unique, composed of red clay and flint stones. Most of the soil in Maoshanhou Village is red clay mixed with flint stones. Research by Shi Hekui, an engineer from the Pinggu District Fruit Office, has shown that this type of soil is rich in potassium, which greatly enhances the taste of the Fojianxi pear. As an essential element for crops, potassium increases stress resistance, promotes root development, enhances photosynthesis for better taste, and improves fruit storability. Additionally, Wang Yujie, an agricultural expert from the village, sent samples to the Fruit Office for testing, which showed that the organic matter content of the red clay in Maoshanhou reaches 2.1 (compared to around 0.5 for ordinary soil). These factors together create the unique taste of the Fojianxi pear from Maoshanhou Village.

　　Geographic Range

　　The Fojianxi pear of Maoshanhou is grown throughout Maoshanhou Village in Jinhaihu Town, Pinggu District. Its geographical coordinates are: longitude 117°17′53″ to 117°19′09″, latitude 40°12′34″ to 40°14′04″. The planting area covers approximately 150 hectares, with current annual production of about 180 tons. At full production capacity, annual yield can reach 1,500 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　The Fojianxi pear of Maoshanhou has an attractive appearance, with fruits that are flat-round or nearly round, featuring deep and broad calyx cavities and deciduous calyxes. The average single fruit weight is 250g, with the largest reaching up to 500g. The skin is light yellow with bright red blush on the sun-exposed side, and the peel is thin. The flesh is white, dense, crisp, and juicy, with few stone cells. The fruit hardness is 5.1–5.4 kg/cm², the flavor is pleasant, and the soluble solids content is 10.5–11.0%. It contains 3.5–3.8g of dietary fiber per 10g, indicating superior quality. The pear matures in early October and is resistant to storage. Production processes, packaging, and sales strictly follow standards such as the “Guidelines for the Rational Use of Pesticides” (GB/T8321.9-2009), the “General Principles for the Rational Use of Fertilizers” (NY/T496-2002), and the “Green Food Temperate Fruits” (NY/T844-2010).