容(rong)縣(xian)沙(sha)田柚(you)(you)是柚(you)(you)類中的佳品(pin),有“柚(you)(you)中之王”的美譽。其果(guo)呈梨型,色澤橙(cheng)黃,外(wai)皮細薄,果(guo)肉(rou)脆(cui)嫩,味清(qing)香甜蜜,品(pin)嘗之后滿嘴(zui)留香,令人食之而不厭。
沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you),原產(chan)(chan)於中(zhong)國廣西容(rong)(rong)縣松山鎮沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)村,由(you)農夫夏紆笍于明(ming)朝末年(nian)(nian)(nian)以(yi)(yi)接(jie)枝(zhi)法發明(ming),后來(lai)廣泛種(zhong)植,成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)容(rong)(rong)縣的(de)(de)(de)特產(chan)(chan)。據(ju)史料(liao)記(ji)載,萬(wan)歷十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1585年(nian)(nian)(nian))刻本《容(rong)(rong)州志》記(ji)載:“柚(you)(you)以(yi)(yi)容(rong)(rong)地沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)所(suo)(suo)產(chan)(chan)最負(fu)盛名,香甜(tian)多(duo)汁;容(rong)(rong)地年(nian)(nian)(nian)產(chan)(chan)二百(bai)萬(wan)只,運銷梧粵(yue)港各(ge)埠。”清乾隆四十二年(nian)(nian)(nian),乾隆皇(huang)帝(di)巡游江南,官人夏紀(ji)綱把家鄉容(rong)(rong)縣沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)村出產(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)(de)蜜(mi)柚(you)(you)獻給(gei)皇(huang)帝(di),乾隆吃了連聲(sheng)贊好(hao)(hao),并召(zhao)見夏紀(ji)綱,詢問是何(he)佳(jia)(jia)果(guo)。夏紀(ji)綱回答說:“叫(jiao)楊核子。”皇(huang)帝(di)道(dao):“此果(guo)名字不佳(jia)(jia),應另取果(guo)名。”一(yi)位大(da)臣在旁說:夏官家在沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),千里(li)(li)迢迢,郵送佳(jia)(jia)果(guo)獻給(gei)皇(huang)上(shang)(shang),依臣愚見,郵由(you)同音,又因為(wei)(wei)此果(guo)為(wei)(wei)喬木所(suo)(suo)生,用(yong)木旁的(de)(de)(de)“柚(you)(you)”,稱為(wei)(wei)“沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)”合適。皇(huang)帝(di)聽罷,龍顏(yan)大(da)悅,隨口(kou)贊道(dao):“沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you),沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you),好(hao)(hao),好(hao)(hao)!”沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)一(yi)得(de)到天子的(de)(de)(de)贊賞,便很快繁(fan)衍起(qi)來(lai),沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)村附近越(yue)種(zhong)越(yue)多(duo),那里(li)(li)的(de)(de)(de)土(tu)壤特別(bie)適宜(yi)于它的(de)(de)(de)生長,所(suo)(suo)產(chan)(chan)柚(you)(you)果(guo)確有“甜(tian)脆消渣(zha),獨此一(yi)家”的(de)(de)(de)特點(dian)。名聲(sheng)傳開以(yi)(yi)后,外(wai)縣外(wai)省紛紛前來(lai)引種(zhong),產(chan)(chan)品質(zhi)量雖然不能完全趕(gan)上(shang)(shang)地道(dao)的(de)(de)(de)沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you),便也是果(guo)中(zhong)上(shang)(shang)品,因種(zhong)源來(lai)自沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian),又儀(yi)仗其名聲(sheng),不愿另起(qi)別(bie)名,仍然沿用(yong)沙田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)(you)之名,直至今天。