Hassaku orange
| Hassaku orange | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hassaku, whole and sectioned | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | C. × hassaku
|
| Binomial name | |
| Citrus × hassaku Hort. Tanaka
| |
Hassaku orange (Japanese: 八朔, also called "jagada",[1]) is Japanese citrus hybrid similar to an orange in color but with the size of a grapefruit.
The original plant was discovered near the Jōdo Temple in Inno-shima,
Cultivation and uses
The
In 2010, 68% of Japan's 35,919-ton 'hassaku' harvest came from Wakayama, with the remainder mainly grown in Hiroshima, Ehime and Tokushima Prefectures.[1]
The fruit is mostly eaten raw, because, when cooked, it becomes more bitter. Currently, the idea of using ion-exchange resin is being suggested as a way to remove the bitterness, and so make it possible to commercialize the juice. Nutritionally, the fruit is a good source of
Several populations of the trees were infested with Citrus tristeza virus which caused stunted growth and destroyed the harvest after 10–15 years.[3]
An extraction from the young fruits have been used medically in skin care treatments for patients with atopic dermatitis.[1]
Others
Hassa-kun is a local mascot character which represents Inno-shima in Hiroshima prefecture to enhance image and promote tourism.[4]
References
- ^ PMID 16217907.
- ^ "Japanese Hassaku Fruit". nihonhacks.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2014-12-19.
- ^ Walter Reuther The Citrus Industry, Volume IV, p. 102, at Google Books
- ^ The Innoshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hassakun Profile, Hassakun Official site, http://cci.in-no-shima.jp/hassakun/profile.html