Basic Introduction to Sanhua Plum of Wengyuan
The Sanhua Plum belongs to the Rosaceae family and is a type of Chinese plum, named after its cultivation in Wengyuan County, Guangdong Province. The fruit flesh is rich in nutrients, with a deep red color, fragrant aroma, and crisp texture that is pleasing to the palate, free from any bitterness. It has a sweet taste. Its ripening period falls between the Grain in Ear and Summer Solstice periods in the lunar calendar, and it has historically been referred to as the “King of Southern Fruits in Summer.”
Nutritional Value
The Sanhua Plum is beneficial for liver health. The famous Tang Dynasty physician Sun Simiao once commented that “those with liver issues should eat this.” Vitamin B12 in Sanhua Plums helps regenerate hemoglobin, making it particularly beneficial for anemics. The facial beautifying effects of Sanhua Plums are remarkable; regular consumption of fresh Sanhua Plums can leave one's complexion smooth and clear, making it a natural essence highly sought after in modern beauty regimens. Sanhua Plum wine is even known as “beauty-preserving wine.” According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, plums have a sweet-sour taste and are cool in nature, which helps clear liver heat, produce body fluids, and promote urination. They are especially suitable for treating symptoms such as insufficient stomach fluids, thirst, dry throat, abdominal edema, and difficulty urinating.
Product Characteristics
The Sanhua Plum has bright red skin and flesh, a striking appearance, large size, thick flesh, crisp texture, a pleasant sour-sweet taste, and a fragrant aroma. The fruits contain sugar, protein, carotene, riboflavin, and other nutrients. Vitamin C content in 100 milliliters of juice ranges from 17.5 to 28.7 milligrams, giving it excellent flavor and quality.
Historical and Folklore Background
The town of Sanhua has a tradition of growing plums. Historical records show that the peak period for Sanhua Plum cultivation was during the 1950s and early 1960s, when nearly 3,000 acres were planted across the town, mainly along the banks of the Wengjiang River. Each year, the cooperative purchased around 250,000 kilograms of Sanhua Plums. In the late 1960s, due to the impact of “cutting off the capitalist tail,” many Sanhua Plum trees were cut down, leaving very few remaining in the county. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, successive county party committees and governments placed great importance on fruit production, actively guiding farmers to plant Sanhua Plums. Especially at the end of the 1980s and throughout the 1990s, the area under Sanhua Plum cultivation in Wengyuan County expanded rapidly.
Awards and Honors for Sanhua Plum of Wengyuan
In 1986, it won the title of “Famous and High-Quality Variety” at the Guangdong Province Fruit Evaluation Conference;
In 1987, the Sanhua Plum was named one of the Top Ten Rare and High-Quality Fruits in Guangdong Province;
In 2004, the Wengyuan County Party Committee and County Government designated it as “The Hometown of Chinese Sanhua Plums”;
On April 1, 2010, Sanhua Plums from Wengyuan became the first fruit from Shaoguan to receive certification for export;
In 2011, Sanhua Plums from Xinyi were honored with the title of “Top Ten Fruits of Lingnan.”