Sanya, often dubbed the "Hawaii of the East," is renowned as a tourist hotspot. Yet, its reputation as a "New Paradise for Tropical Fruits" remains relatively understated. This coastal city boasts a year-round production of a diverse array of tropical fruits, promising an endless feast for fruit enthusiasts.
Sanya's Mango Magic
One of the highlights of Sanya's fruit scene is undoubtedly the mango. The city's warm climate, with an average annual temperature of 25.5°C, is perfect for mango cultivation. This favorable environment means that mangoes are available throughout the year, making "mango freedom" a reality for locals and visitors alike.
Sanya boasts a variety of mango types, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics. The main varieties include Tainong No. 1, Gui Fei (Golden Dragon), Jin Huang, Australian Mangoes, and Ivory Mangoes. Tainong No. 1, originally from Taiwan, is known for its round shape, golden color, and sweet, fragrant flesh. Gui Fei mangoes are large, with a thin seed and a rich, sweet flavor that melts in your mouth. Jin Huang mangoes, which grow at higher altitudes, are prized for their thin seed and thick, smooth flesh, offering one of the highest sugar contents among mangoes.
The variety does not stop there. The market also features Jade Mangoes, which are as big as a face and just as sweet, Chili Mangoes, which have a long, pointed tail and a spicy kick, and Green Mangoes, which remain green from unripe to ripe and have a slightly sour but juicy taste. Another popular variety is the Sacred Heart Mango, with its beautiful red skin and nearly fiberless flesh, making it a recent favorite.
Despite the abundance of newer varieties, the traditional Green Mango, with its slight tartness and crisp texture, remains a local favorite. It is often eaten with chili salt, a traditional way to enjoy its refreshing crunch.
Durian Dreams: Sanya's Local Hope
Durian is another tropical delight that has found a home in Sanya. While durians are typically imported and therefore expensive, local cultivation offers a glimmer of hope for more affordable durians in the future. Sanya's climate, with an average annual temperature of 25.5°C, is ideal for growing durians, making it one of the few places in mainland China suitable for this fruit.
The journey to cultivate durian in Sanya has been long and persistent, starting in 1958 and continuing through various trials and errors until commercial planting began in 2018. Today, Sanya grows over 3,000 hectares of durian, with varieties like Thailand's Golden Pillow, Malaysia's Musang King, and Black Thorn being the main types. According to local experts, Sanya's durians have a superior taste compared to the market varieties, as they ripen naturally on the tree.
Currently, Sanya produces around 50 tons of durian annually, but as cultivation techniques improve and the trees mature, the production volume is expected to increase, potentially making durian more accessible and affordable for all.
The Watery Delight of Wax Apples
Another tropical treasure in Sanya is the wax apple, known for its refreshing, water-like quality. Locally referred to as "sweet not" or "plop" due to the sound they make when they fall from the tree, wax apples are a true "lazy fruit" with no shell or core to worry about.
Sanya has a long history of growing wax apples, with the original pink variety being less sweet but having a distinctive camphor aroma. Nowadays, improved varieties like Black Pearl and Black King Kong are more popular. These black wax apples are crisp, juicy, and incredibly refreshing, earning them the nickname "spring water on a tree."
The most prized variety is the Milk Wax Apple, known for its delicate texture and sweet, juicy flesh. This variety is nurtured using a unique organic fertilizer that includes milk, giving it a distinctive flavor and high market value. Another notable variety is the South Deer No. 1, a second-generation hybrid that combines the best qualities of Black King Kong and Milk Wax Apples, and is even exported to countries like Canada.
A Parade of Tropical Fruits
The array of tropical fruits in Sanya is not just diverse but also includes some truly exotic varieties. The New Hong Kong Fruit Market is a bustling hub where locals and tourists alike can explore an incredible variety of fruits, from the familiar to the unusual.
Guavas, with their distinctive aroma, are a childhood favorite for many locals, while starfruits, known for their star-shaped cross-section, come in sweet and sour varieties. The market also features dragon fruits, including the rarer yellow and bird's nest varieties, which are more succulent and sweeter than the common types.
Mangosteens, with their soft, white flesh resembling tiny cat paws, are a must-try, while rambutans, imported from the Malay Peninsula in the 1950s and '60s, offer a lychee-like texture and flavor.
Other intriguing fruits include the thorny kiwano, also known as horned melon, which is sour and typically enjoyed with honey; cactus fruits, which look like miniature dragon fruits but taste like mulberries; and the vividly colored egg fruit, reminiscent of a cooked sweet potato in texture.
Soursop, known as the "ice cream of fruits," offers a unique flavor and is among the sweetest fruits globally. Recently, a new purple variety has been introduced, adding to its visual and taste appeal. Tiny thumb-sized watermelons, which taste more like cucumbers, are another novelty, appealing for their bite-sized convenience.
These are just a few examples of the fruit bounty that awaits in Sanya. The city also grows miracle fruit, which makes everything taste sweet; salak, or snake fruit, with a texture like coconut and a flavor like pineapple; breadfruit, which tastes like potatoes; and finger limes, whose pulp resembles caviar.
Sanya's Culinary Creativity with Fruits
In Sanya, enjoying fruits is not just about eating them fresh; the local cuisine offers many innovative and delicious ways to savor these tropical treasures. For instance, green mangoes are often eaten with chili salt or made into refreshing salads with rice vinegar, soy sauce, or lime juice.
One of the must-try treats in Sanya is freshly made fruit shaved ice, which combines a variety of tropical fruits like mangoes, wax apples, lychees, and durians with toppings like taro balls, winter melon, raisins, and peanuts. Local wisdom suggests using brown sugar instead of white sugar for a richer flavor.
Traditional dishes like stir-fried jackfruit with pork and coconut chicken are also popular, showcasing the versatility of these fruits in savory recipes. Even guavas can be enjoyed with chili salt or sweet chili sauce, offering a unique taste experience.
Sanya's vibrant fruit culture extends beyond the markets and into everyday life, making it a paradise for fruit lovers. Whether you're enjoying a simple slice of mango on the beach or exploring the exotic offerings at the local market, Sanya's fruits provide a delightful and refreshing taste of the tropics.
In Sanya, fruit is more than just food; it's a way of life, a testament to the region's rich agricultural heritage, and a delicious part of its modern culinary landscape. So next time you're in this tropical paradise, be sure to indulge in the sweet, juicy, and sometimes surprising fruits that make Sanya a true fruit lover's heaven.
