Basic Introduction to Jing'an Ponkan
“Jing'an Ponkan” is a specialty of Jing'an County, Jiangxi Province. It is certified as a pollution-free food and green food by the state, a famous agricultural product in Jiangxi Province, and a national geographical indication product. It is characterized by compact plant type, early fruiting period, beautiful fruit shape, bright color, crisp flesh, sweet taste, late maturity, and good storability. It is known as the “Far Eastern King of Oranges.” Similar to the pomelo, the Jing'an ponkan stands out with its uniform size, full moisture content, beautiful appearance, and excellent storability.
Nutritional Value
It contains proteins, sugars, inorganic salts, vitamins, over ten essential amino acids for the human body, and various minerals, especially corniculin, vitamin C, vitamin P, and carotene, making it a precious fruit for health and wellness. It has been cherished as the “Holy Fruit of Vitamin C.” The vitamin C and citric acid in ponkan can beautify the skin and alleviate fatigue, respectively. Regular consumption can lower cholesterol levels in the human body, eliminate residual harmful substances, and promote overall health.
Product Characteristics
Sensory Features: High, flat, and round-shaped, with an intact peduncle, bright orange (or yellow) color, smooth and delicate skin, a thickness of about 1 mm, bright flesh, crisp and tender texture that easily breaks down, a sweet flavor, a balanced sweetness and acidity, and the characteristic aroma of this variety.
Historical Folklore
“Jing'an Ponkan” was developed in 1952 by Hu Yeping, an experienced horticulturist from the Jing'an Horticultural Field, who grafted buds from ponkan seedlings from elsewhere onto local red mandarins. After years of careful cultivation, an excellent variety was created. In 1962, the Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences officially named this variety “Jing'an Ponkan,” which was recognized as a key scientific research achievement in the Yichun region. In June 1992, the Jiangxi provincial government convened a forestry and fruit industry symposium in Jing'an, focusing on the development of Jing'an Ponkan. The symposium highly praised the fruit, and the same year, the National Science and Technology Commission approved its inclusion in the national Torch Program. In 2003, the China Quality Products Development and Service Association designated Jing'an County as the “Home of Ponkan” and certified the fruit as pollution-free by the Center for Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products under the Ministry of Agriculture, allowing it to use the pollution-free agricultural product logo. By 2009, the planting area of Jing'an Ponkan had reached 105,000 mu, with an annual output value of 120 million yuan, accounting for more than 30% of the county's total agricultural income.
Awards and Honors for Jing'an Ponkan
In March 2004, Jing'an Ponkan was certified by the Center for Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture as a national pollution-free agricultural product, receiving a unified pollution-free agricultural product label for the country. It entered wholesale markets and supermarkets without inspection and was awarded the title of high-quality fruit in Jiangxi Province. It also received the “Green Food Mark” from the China Green Food Development Center. The “Kaiguang” brand of Jing'an Ponkan was named a famous agricultural product in Jiangxi Province for 2006.