Basic Introduction to Huilí Pomegranate
Huilí pomegranates have been renowned for their quality since ancient times. During the Tang Dynasty, they were designated as an imperial tribute, delivered annually to the palace by the King of Nanzhao. In 1966, Guanhe Township sent a premium variety of Huilí pomegranates, the Cai Ziyuan, which can weigh over one kilogram per fruit, to Chairman Mao Zedong. Additionally, 6,000 carefully selected Huilí pomegranates were requested for the Asian Games held in Beijing. This is a source of pride for the people of Huilí. Since the reform and opening up, the Huilí pomegranate industry has experienced significant growth.
Nutritional Value
Pomegranates are warm in nature, sweet or sour in taste, and have the effects of quenching thirst, regulating bowel movements, and stopping diarrhea. They contain various organic acids, such as punicic acid, which aid digestion, stimulate appetite, and have a clear astringent effect. Pomegranates also exhibit antibacterial and antiviral properties, inhibiting and killing dysentery bacteria and paralyzing parasites within the body. The vitamin C and carotene found in pomegranates act as antioxidants that prevent cellular canceration and help prevent atherosclerosis. Pomegranate leaves can be made into tea, which hydrates and quenches thirst. When used to wash the eyes, it can improve vision and alleviate eye ailments.
Product Characteristics
The green-skinned soft-seeded pomegranates from Huilí are a rare and excellent variety in China, known for their large size, thin skin, bright color, abundant juice, and soft seeds.
Historical and Folklore
Huilí County is located in the southwestern part of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, with beautiful landscapes and abundant resources. It is well-known for its green-skinned soft-seeded pomegranates and is often referred to as the “Pomegranate Capital of China.”
The cultivation of Huilí pomegranates has a long history. According to the “Huilí Gazetteer,” “The pomegranate is also known as ‘Rouliu,' ‘Danrou,' ‘Jinying,' ‘Tianjiang,' ‘Zhushi,' ‘Zhyuying,' ‘Jinyin.' There are sweet and sour varieties, commonly referred to as pomegranates.” During the Qing Dynasty, when Magistrate Ye Shudong arrived in Huilí, he was captivated by the pomegranate flowers, which were as red as rosy clouds, and composed a poem: “A horseman rides under the moon at the edge of the world, his family and children stand like clouds on the mountain crest; the officials fear to see the gentleman's face, but ten thousand pomegranate blossoms illuminate the envoy.” Lu Wei, the inspector of Miyi, also left behind a poem about Huilí: “The fragrant mist is like a net, the clouds are black, the pomegranates are like fire, and the willows are like smoke; the sight of the mountains transports one into a painting by Wang Wei, while drinking and composing poetry evokes the spirit of Li Bai.”
Huilí, the original home of Huilí pomegranates, is located in the northeastern part of the southwestern Hengduan Mountains, on the southeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The climate in this region is typical of the subtropical western semi-humid climate zone in China, characterized by abundant sunshine, strong evaporation, concentrated rainfall, and distinct dry and wet seasons. These unique natural conditions contribute to the high-quality traits of Huilí pomegranates, such as their large size, thin skin, bright color, large seeds, soft texture, and sweet, juicy flavor.
The Huilí County Party Committee and People's Government have prioritized the development of the “Huilí Pomegranate” industry as a key pillar for increasing farmers' income and building socialist new rural areas, aiming for sustainable development. By 2010, the area under pomegranate cultivation had reached 243,800 mu (approximately 16,253 hectares), producing 240,000 tons of fruit, generating 910 million yuan in revenue for local farmers. The fruit is sold across more than 20 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China, as well as in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe and America. The growth of the Huilí pomegranate industry has spurred the healthy development of related industries such as transportation, labor services, packaging, accommodation, catering, agricultural inputs, and marketing, achieving diversified economic development.