容(rong)縣沙田柚是柚類中(zhong)的(de)佳品,有“柚中(zhong)之王”的(de)美譽。其果呈(cheng)梨型(xing),色(se)澤橙黃,外皮細薄,果肉脆嫩,味(wei)清香甜蜜,品嘗(chang)之后滿嘴留香,令(ling)人食之而不厭。
沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you),原產(chan)於中國(guo)廣西容(rong)縣松山鎮沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)村,由農夫夏紆(yu)笍于明(ming)(ming)朝末年(nian)(nian)以(yi)接枝法發明(ming)(ming),后(hou)來廣泛種(zhong)植,成(cheng)為容(rong)縣的特產(chan)。據史料記載,萬(wan)歷十三年(nian)(nian)(1585年(nian)(nian))刻本《容(rong)州志(zhi)》記載:“柚(you)以(yi)容(rong)地沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)所(suo)產(chan)最負盛名,香甜多(duo)汁(zhi);容(rong)地年(nian)(nian)產(chan)二(er)百萬(wan)只,運銷(xiao)梧(wu)粵港各埠。”清乾隆四十二(er)年(nian)(nian),乾隆皇(huang)帝(di)(di)巡游江南(nan),官人(ren)夏紀綱把家(jia)(jia)(jia)鄉容(rong)縣沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)村出產(chan)的蜜柚(you)獻給皇(huang)帝(di)(di),乾隆吃了(le)連聲贊(zan)好,并召見(jian)夏紀綱,詢問是(shi)何佳果(guo)(guo)。夏紀綱回答說(shuo):“叫楊核子(zi)。”皇(huang)帝(di)(di)道:“此(ci)果(guo)(guo)名字不(bu)(bu)佳,應另取果(guo)(guo)名。”一(yi)(yi)位(wei)大(da)臣(chen)在(zai)旁說(shuo):夏官家(jia)(jia)(jia)在(zai)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian),千里迢(tiao)迢(tiao),郵送佳果(guo)(guo)獻給皇(huang)上(shang),依(yi)臣(chen)愚見(jian),郵由同(tong)音(yin),又(you)因為此(ci)果(guo)(guo)為喬木(mu)所(suo)生(sheng),用木(mu)旁的“柚(you)”,稱為“沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)”合適。皇(huang)帝(di)(di)聽(ting)罷,龍顏大(da)悅,隨口贊(zan)道:“沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you),沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you),好,好!”沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)一(yi)(yi)得到天(tian)子(zi)的贊(zan)賞(shang),便(bian)很快(kuai)繁衍(yan)起來,沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)村附近越種(zhong)越多(duo),那里的土壤特別適宜(yi)于它的生(sheng)長,所(suo)產(chan)柚(you)果(guo)(guo)確(que)有“甜脆(cui)消渣,獨此(ci)一(yi)(yi)家(jia)(jia)(jia)”的特點(dian)。名聲傳開以(yi)后(hou),外縣外省(sheng)紛(fen)紛(fen)前(qian)來引(yin)種(zhong),產(chan)品質量(liang)雖然不(bu)(bu)能完全趕上(shang)地道的沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you),便(bian)也是(shi)果(guo)(guo)中上(shang)品,因種(zhong)源來自(zi)沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian),又(you)儀仗其(qi)名聲,不(bu)(bu)愿(yuan)另起別名,仍然沿用沙(sha)田(tian)(tian)(tian)柚(you)之名,直(zhi)至今天(tian)。