Product Name: Golden Tribute Pomelo (Chunxiang Tangelo / Haruka)
Description:
Golden Tribute Pomelo, also known as Chunxiang Tangelo or Haruka, is a premium hybrid citrus variety selected in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, from a natural seedling of ‘Hyuganatsu’. It is a cross between tangerine and pomelo, officially announced in Japan in 2000, and introduced to China’s Xiangshan County, Zhejiang Province, in 2000. Since its introduction, it has been widely cultivated across Zhejiang, Hunan, Fujian, Yunnan, and other citrus-growing regions, gaining recognition as a rare and premium high-quality variety.
A Citrus That Defies Categorization:
Golden Tribute Pomelo is affectionately called the "four不像" (four-not-like) fruit – it looks like an orange, smells like a lemon, tastes as sweet as a pomelo, and is as juicy as a tangerine. This unique combination of characteristics makes it instantly memorable and highly appealing to consumers.
Appearance:
The fruit is flat-spherical to round, with a pale yellow skin resembling a Eureka lemon, featuring a rough, glossy surface with prominent oil cells. Its most distinctive feature is the “copper coin mark” (铜钱印) – a ring-shaped indentation at the top of the fruit that resembles an ancient Chinese coin, symbolizing “wealth and prosperity” and making it an ideal gift fruit.
Flavor & Sweetness:
Golden Tribute Pomelo delivers an exceptionally sweet, low-acid flavor with a soluble solids content of 11%–13%, rising to 13.5 Brix or higher under protected cultivation, with acidity as low as 0.62%. The flesh is crisp, melting (化渣), seedless, and bursting with juice. Remarkably, the fruit loses its acidity by August, meaning it can be enjoyed even while the skin is still green.
Nutritional Excellence:
Golden Tribute Pomelo is rich in selenium and contains dietary fiber, carotene, vitamins, calcium, iron, and phosphorus – with nutrient content reported to be 55 times higher than ordinary pomelos. Studies have linked regular consumption to reduced risk of diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and liver disease, and it is valued in traditional medicine for relieving heat, promoting digestion, and detoxifying alcohol.
Key Commercial Advantages:
Exceptional Storage Life – Stores at room temperature until April of the following year, or until August under refrigeration, with flavor actually improving during storage
Unique "Copper Coin" Appearance – Highly recognizable and symbolically auspicious, ideal for gift markets
Seedless & Easy to Peel – Convenient for fresh eating
Early Edibility – Can be consumed as early as August, extending the sales window significantly
Strong Disease & Cold Resistance – Thrives with minimal inputs; tolerates temperatures down to -2°C
Premium Market Positioning – Retail prices reach 16–20 yuan per kilogram, commanding a significant premium over ordinary citrus
Growing Regions:
Native to Japan, Golden Tribute Pomelo is now successfully cultivated in Zhejiang (Xiangshan – the first introduction site) , Hunan (Hengshan, Hongjiang, Dong’an, Yuanjiang) , Fujian (Lianjiang) , Yunnan (Pu’er) , Hubei (Wuhan) , Jiangxi (Jing’an) , and Guizhou (Rongjiang) . The Xiangshan region in Zhejiang has over 233 hectares under cultivation, with premium orchards generating over 30,000 yuan per mu in revenue.
Cultivation Notes:
Climate: Annual average temperature 16–20°C; winter extreme minimum ≥ -3°C; ≥10°C accumulated temperature above 5,000°C
Rootstock: Trifoliate orange, Zhuluan, Goutoucheng, or Carrizo citrange are recommended
Planting Density: 45–55 trees per mu at 3m×4m or 3m×5m spacing
Fertilization: Frequent, light applications every 20 days for young trees; stop fertilizing after October to avoid winter flushes
Fruit Thinning: Maintain leaf-to-fruit ratio of (65:1)–(80:1) for optimal fruit size and quality
Key Pests & Diseases: Watch for anthracnose (major cause of leaf and fruit drop) and red spider mite; focus control efforts from late May to September
Harvest Season:
December – a premium late-autumn/winter variety that captures the Christmas, New Year, and Spring Festival gift markets. With its exceptional storage life, unique appearance, and symbolic meaning, Golden Tribute Pomelo offers growers a truly distinctive product with year-round market potential and strong premium pricing.