容縣沙田柚是柚類中(zhong)的佳品(pin),有“柚中(zhong)之王”的美(mei)譽。其(qi)果(guo)呈梨型(xing),色澤橙黃,外皮細薄,果(guo)肉(rou)脆嫩,味清(qing)香甜(tian)蜜,品(pin)嘗之后滿嘴留香,令(ling)人食之而(er)不厭。
沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you),原(yuan)產(chan)(chan)於中國廣西容(rong)(rong)縣(xian)松山鎮沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)村(cun),由農夫夏(xia)紆笍于明(ming)朝末年(nian)以(yi)接枝法發明(ming),后(hou)來廣泛種植(zhi),成為(wei)(wei)容(rong)(rong)縣(xian)的特產(chan)(chan)。據史料(liao)記(ji)載(zai),萬(wan)歷(li)十三年(nian)(1585年(nian))刻本《容(rong)(rong)州志》記(ji)載(zai):“柚(you)以(yi)容(rong)(rong)地沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)所(suo)(suo)產(chan)(chan)最負盛名(ming)(ming),香甜多汁;容(rong)(rong)地年(nian)產(chan)(chan)二百(bai)萬(wan)只,運銷梧(wu)粵(yue)港各(ge)埠。”清乾隆四十二年(nian),乾隆皇(huang)帝巡游江南,官(guan)人(ren)夏(xia)紀綱(gang)把家(jia)鄉(xiang)容(rong)(rong)縣(xian)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)村(cun)出產(chan)(chan)的蜜柚(you)獻給皇(huang)帝,乾隆吃了(le)連(lian)聲贊好(hao),并(bing)召見夏(xia)紀綱(gang),詢問是何佳(jia)(jia)果。夏(xia)紀綱(gang)回答說:“叫楊(yang)核子(zi)(zi)。”皇(huang)帝道(dao)(dao):“此果名(ming)(ming)字不(bu)佳(jia)(jia),應另取果名(ming)(ming)。”一位大臣(chen)在(zai)旁(pang)說:夏(xia)官(guan)家(jia)在(zai)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian),千里迢(tiao)迢(tiao),郵送佳(jia)(jia)果獻給皇(huang)上,依(yi)臣(chen)愚見,郵由同音,又(you)因為(wei)(wei)此果為(wei)(wei)喬木所(suo)(suo)生,用(yong)木旁(pang)的“柚(you)”,稱為(wei)(wei)“沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you)”合適(shi)。皇(huang)帝聽罷(ba),龍顏大悅,隨口贊道(dao)(dao):“沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you),沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you),好(hao),好(hao)!”沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you)一得(de)到(dao)天子(zi)(zi)的贊賞,便(bian)(bian)很(hen)快繁衍(yan)起來,沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)村(cun)附(fu)近越種越多,那里的土壤特別(bie)適(shi)宜于它的生長,所(suo)(suo)產(chan)(chan)柚(you)果確(que)有“甜脆消渣,獨(du)此一家(jia)”的特點。名(ming)(ming)聲傳(chuan)開以(yi)后(hou),外縣(xian)外省(sheng)紛(fen)紛(fen)前(qian)來引種,產(chan)(chan)品質量雖然不(bu)能完全(quan)趕上地道(dao)(dao)的沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you),便(bian)(bian)也(ye)是果中上品,因種源來自沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian),又(you)儀仗其名(ming)(ming)聲,不(bu)愿另起別(bie)名(ming)(ming),仍然沿用(yong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)(tian)柚(you)之名(ming)(ming),直至今天。