Shawo Radish

Shawo Radish

The Shawo Radish is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The Shawo Radish is produced in Xiaoshaowo Village, Xinkou Town, Xiqing District, Tianjin City, hence its name. The soil in Xiaoshaowo Village is sandy on top and clayey underneath, which is particularly suitable for radish cultivation. As a result, the village’s radishes have been beloved by the people of Tianjin for nearly a century, earning the reputation that “Shawo radishes rival pears in taste.” The radishes are crispy upon biting, sweet with a balanced spice, and rich in nutrients, known to help prevent colds. In recent years, villagers have improved cultivation methods by adopting off-season planting, irrigation with deep well water, enclosed management, and completely eliminating pesticide spraying—making them a healthy food free from pesticide residues.

　　The Shawo Radish, also known as Tianjin Weiqing Radish, is celebrated as the “rival of pears” and has a history of over 300 years. The radish is entirely green, with a uniform and neat shape, smooth and delicate skin. It tastes sweet with a slight spice, is crisp and juicy, and can be easily cracked just by tapping—so much so that folk sayings describe it as “breaking into eight pieces with one fall.” It serves both as a vegetable and a fruit, not only high in nutritional value but also effective in aiding digestion, relieving bloating, soothing the throat, and stimulating appetite.

　　The soil in the region where Shawo Radish is grown is particularly suitable for radishes. There is even a legend behind it: It is said that during the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Jiajing had a favorite concubine who loved lychees. The minister Yan Song devised a plan to dig up entire lychee trees, load them onto ships, and transport them to Tianjin, then pluck the lychees and deliver them to the palace—ensuring their freshness and flavor. Over time, the soil dug out with the lychee trees piled up along the Haihe River in Xiaoliuzhuang, covering an area of more than ten acres. Later, this soil was transported to Xinkou Town in Xiqing District, where it was used to grow the famous Shawo Radish.