恭(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)紅瓜子產自廣西(xi)桂林恭(gong)城(cheng)(cheng)瑤族自治縣(xian),是當地傳統(tong)的名特優產品之一。
恭城紅瓜籽具有粒大、飽滿、色澤鮮艷、味香質(zhi)脆(cui)的(de)特點(dian),其(qi)子仁(ren)含(han)有豐(feng)富的(de)脂(zhi)肪和蛋白質(zhi),可(ke)清肺(fei)潤腸,有補(bu)中宜氣,止渴化痰之功效。既可(ke)零食,又可(ke)作為各種糕點(dian)配料。
恭城(cheng)(cheng)紅瓜籽1年(nian)種(zhong)植(zhi)面積1.2萬畝左右,年(nian)產(chan)(chan)620噸。恭城(cheng)(cheng)加會鄉、栗木鎮、龍虎鄉、西嶺鄉、平安鄉等鄉鎮為主(zhu)產(chan)(chan)區。一般(ban)5月初(chu)種(zhong)植(zhi),7月中旬(xun)后收(shou)獲供應市場。生產(chan)(chan)周期(qi)短,經濟效益高。
首(shou)先是(shi)曬(shai)籽(zi)(zi),也就(jiu)是(shi)從瓜瓤(rang)中取出籽(zi)(zi),洗凈、曬(shai)干。曬(shai)籽(zi)(zi)的時間(jian)十分(fen)關鍵(jian)。黃良生告訴記(ji)者(zhe),要在授(shou)粉后25天,葉片變(bian)黃、莖(jing)蔓(man)干枯、瓜皮(pi)呈深綠(lv)色時,選擇(ze)晴天采(cai)收,收后及時用清水洗凈。
之所以必須在晴天采收(shou),是因為采后(hou)的瓜子必須在曬墊或石(shi)灰上曬干,避免淋雨,未(wei)干時不能翻動(dong)。若未(wei)干便(bian)翻動(dong)或被雨淋,瓜子就會形成褪色花斑(ban)。在一天內曬干,便(bian)可保證顏色棕(zong)紅。
曬(shai)籽后(hou)進行加(jia)工時(shi)(shi)(shi),也(ye)必須十分小(xiao)心(xin),才能確保其紅色(se)色(se)澤純正。加(jia)工時(shi)(shi)(shi),將曬(shai)好的瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)籽用(yong)盒裝好,注(zhu)入(ru)清水,以蓋過瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)面為度(du),浸泡(pao)8小(xiao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)左(zuo)右(you)。待水被瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)吸干后(hou)入(ru)鍋(guo),用(yong)旺火翻炒(chao)至(zhi)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)有擊(ji)鍋(guo)聲時(shi)(shi)(shi)改用(yong)小(xiao)火焙(bei)烤,焙(bei)至(zhi)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)仁(ren)脆香時(shi)(shi)(shi)出鍋(guo),鋪開進行回潮,回至(zhi)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)仁(ren)脫殼(ke)殼(ke)不斷裂(lie)為度(du)。期(qi)間要(yao)特別注(zhu)意,瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)注(zhu)水后(hou)不能搓動,也(ye)不要(yao)把水倒掉,否則紅瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)就(jiu)會(hui)變成(cheng)白瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)(gua)子(zi)(zi)(zi)。