Loquat from Xiayuankeng

Loquat from Xiayuankeng

　　Loquat is a subtropical fruit tree that blooms in autumn with a long flowering period, making it an excellent source of nectar. Its fruits ripen in early summer, during the off-season for most other fruits, which is why they are especially popular. The loquat tree has a neat canopy, remains evergreen all year round, and boasts large, lush leaves, making it a favored ornamental fruit tree in gardens.

As the saying goes: “Famous loquats grow on the tree, originating from Xiayuankeng in Yongkang.” The *Yongkang Landscape Ode* once described it as: “The loquats of Xiayuankeng are like golden pellets spread across the fields.” Xiayuankeng loquats are abundant and of high quality, with annual yields at their peak exceeding 250 tons, sold across the Wu and Wen regions and beyond.

Xiayuankeng loquats are medium-sized, oval-shaped, with golden-yellow skin and pale yellow flesh. They have thin skin, thick flesh, abundant juice, and a sweet and delicious taste. Especially those from Ruoqingkeng and Yandongqian are notably large in size, very small in seed—often single-seeded—and exceptionally juicy. For every 500 grams of these loquats, about 200 grams are net edible flesh after removing the stem, skin, and seeds. During the Song Dynasty, they were even offered as tribute.

Also known as loquat or “lu zhi,” the fruit has long been regarded as a delicacy. Rich in Vitamin A, sugars, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other nutrients, loquats are highly nutritious. Besides being eaten fresh, they can also be made into canned goods, fruit wine, jams, and syrups. Medicinally, loquats are used to quench thirst, moisten the lungs, regulate qi, soothe the stomach, and reduce nausea. Nowadays, loquat cultivation in Yongkang has expanded to various areas, with newly developed varieties being grown in places like Xindian Township.

(Yongkang)