容縣沙田柚是柚類中的佳品,有“柚中之(zhi)王”的美譽。其果呈梨型,色澤橙(cheng)黃(huang),外皮細薄,果肉(rou)脆嫩,味清香甜蜜(mi),品嘗之(zhi)后滿嘴留香,令人(ren)食之(zhi)而不厭。
沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you),原產(chan)(chan)於(wu)中國廣西容縣(xian)松山鎮沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)村,由(you)農夫夏紆笍于明朝末年以(yi)(yi)(yi)接枝法發明,后來(lai)廣泛(fan)種(zhong)(zhong)植,成為(wei)(wei)容縣(xian)的(de)(de)特(te)產(chan)(chan)。據史料(liao)記載,萬(wan)歷十三年(1585年)刻本《容州志(zhi)》記載:“柚(you)以(yi)(yi)(yi)容地(di)(di)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)所產(chan)(chan)最負盛(sheng)名(ming)(ming),香(xiang)甜多汁(zhi);容地(di)(di)年產(chan)(chan)二百萬(wan)只,運銷梧粵港各埠(bu)。”清(qing)乾隆(long)四(si)十二年,乾隆(long)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)帝巡游江南,官(guan)人夏紀(ji)綱把家(jia)(jia)鄉容縣(xian)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)村出產(chan)(chan)的(de)(de)蜜柚(you)獻(xian)給(gei)(gei)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)帝,乾隆(long)吃了(le)連聲(sheng)贊好(hao),并召見(jian)夏紀(ji)綱,詢問是何佳(jia)果(guo)。夏紀(ji)綱回答說:“叫楊核子。”皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)帝道:“此(ci)(ci)果(guo)名(ming)(ming)字(zi)不佳(jia),應另(ling)取果(guo)名(ming)(ming)。”一位(wei)大臣在旁說:夏官(guan)家(jia)(jia)在沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian),千里迢迢,郵送佳(jia)果(guo)獻(xian)給(gei)(gei)皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)上,依臣愚(yu)見(jian),郵由(you)同音,又因為(wei)(wei)此(ci)(ci)果(guo)為(wei)(wei)喬木所生(sheng),用(yong)木旁的(de)(de)“柚(you)”,稱為(wei)(wei)“沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you)”合適。皇(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)(huang)帝聽罷,龍顏(yan)大悅(yue),隨口(kou)贊道:“沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you),沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you),好(hao),好(hao)!”沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you)一得到天(tian)子的(de)(de)贊賞,便很(hen)快繁(fan)衍起(qi)來(lai),沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)村附近越種(zhong)(zhong)越多,那里的(de)(de)土壤特(te)別適宜于它(ta)的(de)(de)生(sheng)長(chang),所產(chan)(chan)柚(you)果(guo)確有“甜脆(cui)消渣,獨(du)此(ci)(ci)一家(jia)(jia)”的(de)(de)特(te)點。名(ming)(ming)聲(sheng)傳開以(yi)(yi)(yi)后,外(wai)縣(xian)外(wai)省(sheng)紛紛前來(lai)引種(zhong)(zhong),產(chan)(chan)品質量(liang)雖然(ran)不能完(wan)全(quan)趕(gan)上地(di)(di)道的(de)(de)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you),便也是果(guo)中上品,因種(zhong)(zhong)源(yuan)來(lai)自沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian),又儀仗其名(ming)(ming)聲(sheng),不愿另(ling)起(qi)別名(ming)(ming),仍然(ran)沿用(yong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田(tian)柚(you)之名(ming)(ming),直至今天(tian)。