Description
Guanxi Mi You PDO is a fresh citrus fruit (pomelo) belonging to the Citrus grandi species.
Production Area
The production area of Guanxi Mi You PDO includes the hills, plains, paddy fields and eyots below 500 metres a.s.l in the territories of 16 towns and villages in Pinghe County, in the Province of Fujian.
Production Method
The orchard is planted on selected land with 600 plants per hectare and both chemical and organic fertilisers are used (the latter represents 40-50% of the total). To promote efficient growth the trees are trimmed twice a year, in summer and winter. For trees with strong vitality, the trunk or main branch can be girdled from the beginning of November to mid-December, thereby promoting flower bud differentiation and enhancing the flowering rate. Harvesting begins according to the altitude of the orchards: in the last ten days of September for under 100 metres a.s.l; in the first ten days of October for between 100 and 300 metres a.s.l; in the last ten days of October for over 300 metres a.s.l.
Appearance and Flavour
Guanxi Mi You PDO is pear shaped with a flat top and a distinct circular marking around the tip. It is a fairly large fruit that weighs between 1000 and 1750gr., and the minimum edible percentage is 55%. The skin is bright orange (yellowish-green at the beginning of harvest), smooth and thin. The flesh is juicy and tender and is noted for its delicious sweet-sour flavour.
History
The Guanxi pomelo has been cultivated in Pinghe County for more than 500 years. Already known in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Quing Dynasty (1644-1911), the pomelo was known as Pinghepao in ancient times. It was cultivated in the Xipu area near to the Guanxi River, where the fruit grew particularly large and were renowned for sweetness like honey (honey pomelo). In the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty, the pomelo was used as a tribute to the royal family. In more recent times, Emperor Tongzhi decreed that "Xipu xinji" and its coat of arms with the green dragon should be used as a brand on the fruit. During this period the population called the fruit the "Emperor's Pomelo". In China, this fruit has always been considered a symbol of fortune and the Chinese character used to draw the pomelo means something very similar to the word "blessing". As the fruit's season coincides with the Autumn Festival, its sweetness has naturally entered into the festivities of local traditions.
Gastronomy
Guanxi Mi You PDO can be kept for a couple of days at room temperature, while in the refrigerator it can be kept for up to two weeks. It can be used in the same way as grapefruit. When peeling, it is necessary to remove all of the white parts (albedo) and to then divide it into segments according to the direction of the membrane. It should ideally be eaten fresh after eating, but the segments can also be used to enrich salads and in the preparation of desserts and preserves. The extracted juice is an excellent drink, while the peel can be used for delicious candied fruit.
Marketing
The product is marketed as Guanxi Mi You PDO. It is sold in nylon net bags or corrugated cardboard and each fruit is wrapped in polythene film.
Distinctive Features
Guanxi Mi You PDO contains more than 10 types of trace elements essential for the human organism.
