Quzhou Citrus

Quzhou Citrus

　　Quzhou citrus is a specialty of Qujiang District in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Known as the "hometown of citrus" for centuries, Quzhou has a long history of citrus cultivation. Originally, the native varieties were of poor quality, but after years of introduction and improvement, their quality has steadily improved. The fruit is now renowned across China for its "thin peel," "aromatic scent," and "juicy flesh." Quzhou is truly a "hometown of citrus."

　　The original varieties of Quzhou citrus were of poor quality, mainly fragrant trifoliate orange and golden orange, and development was slow before the Northern Song Dynasty. Quzhou’s geographic location as a hub connecting four provinces and its natural conditions at the northern edge of the subtropical zone made it suitable for introducing superior varieties from Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Guangdong. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the cultivation of Quzhou citrus accelerated. About 100 years ago, Quzhou already had planting areas for loose-skinned citrus, pomelo, and sweet orange.

　　According to historical records, the varieties of Quzhou citrus included fragrant trifoliate orange and golden orange during the Later Wei Dynasty; oranges, pomelos, loquats, golden ball oranges, and mandarins during the Song Dynasty; oranges, Quzhou citrus, and yellow mandarins during the Yuan Dynasty; and over 20 types during the Ming Dynasty, including mandarins, oranges, kumquats, golden mandarins, fragrant round oranges, red mandarins, lion oranges, green mandarins, golden mandarins, bean mandarins, lacquer dish red, loquats, and pomelos. By the Qing Dynasty, varieties included red mandarins, green mandarins, lacquer dish red, golden flat, Fuzhou, bean mandarins, Quzhou mandarins, honey mandarins, small mandarins, pierced mandarins, yellow-scented mandarins, thrown-head mandarins, sweet mandarins, tea mandarins, honey loquat mandarins, golden mandarins, pomelos, oranges, and citrons.

　　The 1919 edition of the "Qu County Annals" listed mandarin varieties such as red mandarins, green mandarins, bean mandarins, lacquer dish, golden flat, and Fuzhou; the orange variety yellow-scented mandarin; the mandarin variety Guang mandarin, also called Guang orange or honey loquat mandarin; the citron also referred to as fragrant round; and the pomelo, known as shouxing pomelo. The golden mandarin, also called golden mandarin, is referred to as golden bullet when round and golden date when elongated.

　　In 1930 (the 19th year of the Republic of China), a survey by Jiang Yunsheng of the College of Agriculture at Zhejiang University identified four main categories and 14 varieties of Quzhou citrus. Additionally, historical texts such as the "Commentary on the Water Classic," "Agricultural Treatise," "Flower Mirror," and "Records of Profits from Plants" all documented the varieties of Quzhou citrus. Today, Quzhou citrus mainly includes three genera, eight species, and 184 varieties and strains. The main types are ponkan, Wenzhou honey tangerine, huyou, sweet orange, xiangpao, Quzhou citrus, and zaofu tangerine.

　　After years of introduction and improvement, the quality of Quzhou citrus has steadily improved. The Ming Dynasty scholar He Qiaoyuan wrote in the "Min Book": "Among the citrus fruits of today, those from Quzhou in Zhejiang and Zhangzhou in Fujian are the best." Li Xiang noted in "Jian’an Casual Notes": "Citrus is similar to oranges but slightly different in peel and shell, with the most excellent varieties found in Wenzhou and Quzhou." Zhang Dafu stated in "Plum Blossom Cottage Collection": "The finest citrus comes from Quzhou and Fuqing. Quzhou excels in flavor, while Fuqing in color and aroma. The taste of Quzhou citrus grows on you—like a warm and courteous person you never tire of being close to."

　　Additionally, historical works such as Wen Zhenheng’s "Treatise on Superfluous Things," Fang Yizhi’s "Small Knowledge of Principles," Lao Dayu’s "Idle Records of Ou River," and Wu Daxun’s "Accounts from Southern Yunnan" have all praised the delicious taste of Quzhou citrus.

　　Quzhou citrus is renowned across China for its "thin peel," "aromatic scent," and "juicy flesh."