容縣沙田(tian)柚是(shi)柚類中(zhong)的佳品,有“柚中(zhong)之(zhi)(zhi)王(wang)”的美譽(yu)。其果(guo)呈梨型,色澤(ze)橙黃,外(wai)皮(pi)細薄,果(guo)肉脆(cui)嫩,味清(qing)香(xiang)甜蜜,品嘗之(zhi)(zhi)后滿嘴留香(xiang),令人食之(zhi)(zhi)而不厭(yan)。
沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you),原產(chan)於中(zhong)國廣西容(rong)(rong)(rong)縣(xian)(xian)松山鎮(zhen)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)村,由(you)農夫夏(xia)(xia)紆(yu)笍于明朝末年(nian)以接枝法發明,后來廣泛(fan)種(zhong)植,成為(wei)容(rong)(rong)(rong)縣(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)特(te)產(chan)。據史(shi)料(liao)記(ji)載,萬(wan)(wan)歷十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(1585年(nian))刻本《容(rong)(rong)(rong)州(zhou)志》記(ji)載:“柚(you)(you)(you)(you)以容(rong)(rong)(rong)地沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)所產(chan)最負盛名(ming),香甜(tian)多汁;容(rong)(rong)(rong)地年(nian)產(chan)二百萬(wan)(wan)只(zhi),運銷梧粵(yue)港各埠。”清(qing)乾隆四十(shi)二年(nian),乾隆皇(huang)帝(di)(di)巡游江南,官人(ren)夏(xia)(xia)紀(ji)(ji)綱把家鄉容(rong)(rong)(rong)縣(xian)(xian)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)村出產(chan)的(de)(de)蜜柚(you)(you)(you)(you)獻給皇(huang)帝(di)(di),乾隆吃了連聲(sheng)(sheng)贊好,并召見夏(xia)(xia)紀(ji)(ji)綱,詢問是何佳果(guo)。夏(xia)(xia)紀(ji)(ji)綱回答說:“叫(jiao)楊核子。”皇(huang)帝(di)(di)道:“此(ci)果(guo)名(ming)字不(bu)佳,應另(ling)取果(guo)名(ming)。”一(yi)(yi)位大臣(chen)在(zai)旁說:夏(xia)(xia)官家在(zai)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian),千里迢(tiao)迢(tiao),郵送佳果(guo)獻給皇(huang)上(shang),依(yi)臣(chen)愚見,郵由(you)同音,又(you)因為(wei)此(ci)果(guo)為(wei)喬(qiao)木(mu)所生(sheng),用木(mu)旁的(de)(de)“柚(you)(you)(you)(you)”,稱為(wei)“沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you)”合適。皇(huang)帝(di)(di)聽(ting)罷,龍顏大悅,隨口贊道:“沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you),沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you),好,好!”沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)得到天子的(de)(de)贊賞,便(bian)很快繁衍(yan)起來,沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)村附近越種(zhong)越多,那里的(de)(de)土壤特(te)別適宜于它的(de)(de)生(sheng)長,所產(chan)柚(you)(you)(you)(you)果(guo)確有(you)“甜(tian)脆消(xiao)渣,獨此(ci)一(yi)(yi)家”的(de)(de)特(te)點。名(ming)聲(sheng)(sheng)傳開以后,外縣(xian)(xian)外省(sheng)紛(fen)紛(fen)前來引種(zhong),產(chan)品(pin)質量雖然不(bu)能完(wan)全趕上(shang)地道的(de)(de)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you),便(bian)也(ye)是果(guo)中(zhong)上(shang)品(pin),因種(zhong)源(yuan)來自(zi)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian),又(you)儀仗(zhang)其(qi)名(ming)聲(sheng)(sheng),不(bu)愿(yuan)另(ling)起別名(ming),仍然沿用沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)(you)(you)之名(ming),直至今天。