The loquat, waxberry and cherry are called as “the three sisters of early summer fruit”.
Dongshan Town, Suzhou, Jiangsu is one of the main origin places of loquat in our country, and white flesh loquat in Dongshan Town has become a brand as a representative of refined loquat. Each year, the middle of May is the season to start picking loquat and also the most busy period at Dongshan Town.
Firstly planted in the late Tang Dynasty, the loquat in Wuzhong District is spread in the hilly area including Dongshan Mountain and Xishan Moutain of Dongting Lake, Guangfu etc., esp. at Dongshan Mountain the planting area is the largest and the quality is the best. Wuzhong loquat is classified into two: white flesh and red flesh loquat,and the white flesh loquat produced from Dongshan is of the top grade. The white flesh loquat includes more than 10 varieties such as the small white flesh loquat, duck egg white flesh loquat, water chestnut white flesh loquat, Qingzhong white flesh loquat and Zhaozhong white flesh loquat etc., of which Zhaozhong white flesh loquat is produced from Chawan Cangchuanwu, Dongshan Mountain, the fruit shape is even and regular like a round ball but is a bit flat, the flesh is thick with rich juice, the flesh color is crystal-clear, the flesh is tender and fine with appropriate sour and sweet level, gets melted upon entering the mouth, is tasty and refreshing, so it is called as “silver honey jar”.
All the loquat tree is treasure. Besides for the fruit is sweet, delicious, can quench thirst, and is rich of protein, the flowers, leaves and nutlet of loquat trees can all be used as medicine and made into traditional Chinese patent medicine such as “loquat lotion”, “loquat sherbet” and “loquat pectoral syrup” etc., which have the effects to clear awaylung-heat, relieve a cough, wet the whistle, quench thirst, promote the secretion of saliva,invigorate stomach, enhance appetite and help ease digestion.
