Fengyan Fruit is the seed of the Wutong tree, a plant in the family of Meliaceae. It is highly nutritious and can be used both medicinally and as food. Additionally, it can also be appreciated for its aesthetic value. Due to its low fruiting rate, there are very few orchards that cultivate Fengyan Fruit in large quantities. Let's now learn about the cultivation methods and nutritional value of Fengyan Fruit.
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【Edible Value of Fengyan Fruit】
Fengyan Fruit is a seasonal ingredient, with the harvest period for the Wutong tree being from July to August. The fresh seeds, after being harvested and shelled, are dried and ready for sale without any special processing.
There are various ways to consume Fengyan Fruit. It can be steamed, boiled, roasted, candied, or braised. Braising is a classic method of preparation and is commonly used to cook dishes with Fengyan Fruit. The dishes, such as braised chicken or braised pork, are known as "Lingnan famous dishes" and are unique regional delicacies.
After boiling, the black outer skin of the Fengyan Fruit is peeled off, followed by the removal of the light brown translucent inner skin, revealing the light or creamy white kernel.
The peeled kernel is soft and white, resembling a small bird's egg. It is delicate and visually appealing, with a flavor similar to chestnuts. The taste is slightly sweet, fragrant, and the texture is juicy, making it even better than chestnuts.
Fengyan Fruit Image
【Medicinal Value of Fengyan Fruit】
1. Digestive Aid
Fengyan Fruit can be steamed, roasted, or braised, and its flavor is similar to chestnuts. When cooked with various meats, it helps nourish the stomach, clear the intestines, dispel heat, and improve vision. It is particularly suitable for consumption in the southern climate.
2. Detoxification and Insecticidal
Fengyan Fruit can expel roundworms from the human body, especially when experiencing abdominal pain caused by ascariasis. By boiling seven Fengyan Fruits and seven Physalis fruits together in water, the resulting decoction can be consumed directly to expel roundworms and alleviate or eliminate abdominal pain. Additionally, it also has detoxification properties and can treat scalp sores in children.
Moreover, the rhizomes of Fengyan Fruit can also be used to treat stomachaches, gastroenteritis, tetanus, injuries, fractures, external bleeding, and rheumatic back and leg pain.
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【Aesthetic Value of Fengyan Fruit】
Due to its low fruiting rate and limited annual production, there are very few orchards that cultivate Fengyan Fruit in large quantities. However, Fengyan Fruit has a strong adaptability, with tall and beautifully shaped trees that are highly resistant to pollution. Therefore, they are widely cultivated in parks, roads, school campuses, factory areas, and courtyards in the southern region of China.
The Wutong trees have dense canopies, evergreen leaves, and attractive tree shapes that do not easily shed leaves. In Zhongshan, which is adjacent to Panyu, the Wutong tree is a popular tree for courtyard landscapes and roadside planting, and can be seen everywhere.
The Wutong tree blooms in early summer and produces large red fruits in July and August. When fully ripe, the Fengyan Fruit splits into four or five segments, with a dark red exterior and a dark brown elliptical spherical seed inside. Due to its resemblance to eyes when viewed from a distance, and the fact that the black-brown seeds are edible, it is commonly known as "Fengyan Fruit" in the folk.
Fengyan Fruit Image
【Cultivation Methods of Fengyan Fruit】
1. Planting
Spring is the best time for planting, with a row spacing of 4 meters × 5 meters being suitable, accommodating 33 trees per acre. The size of the planting hole should be 80 cm × 80 cm × 60 cm. Organic fertilizers should be the main source, supplemented with a small amount of chemical fertilizers, to provide a base fertilization that promotes early and vigorous growth for early fruiting.
2. Field Management
The Wutong tree is not demanding in terms of soil conditions, with a well-developed root system and fast growth. Although it can grow well in infertile and gravelly soils, sandy loam with good drainage and deep soil layers is the most suitable.
Due to the growth habits of the Wutong tree, it is resistant to waterlogging but not drought-tolerant. Therefore, during the flowering and young fruiting stages, frequent watering should be done to maintain soil moisture.
The Wutong tree has strong ability to sprout from the trunk. Proper pruning should be done to remove the upper part of the main branches that are too high, promoting the growth of lateral branches and shaping the tree into an oval shape, which is beneficial for fruiting and harvesting.
3. Pest and Disease Control
The main diseases and pests that affect the Wutong tree include anthracnose, root rot, and wood lice. By combining winter fertilization and maintaining cleanliness in the orchard, including collecting and burning fallen leaves, the sources of infection can be reduced.
