容縣沙田柚是柚類中(zhong)的佳品(pin),有“柚中(zhong)之王(wang)”的美(mei)譽。其果呈梨型,色澤橙黃(huang),外皮細薄,果肉脆(cui)嫩(nen),味清香(xiang)甜蜜(mi),品(pin)嘗之后滿嘴留香(xiang),令人食之而不(bu)厭。
沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you),原產(chan)於中國廣西容縣松(song)山鎮沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田村,由(you)農夫(fu)夏(xia)紆(yu)笍于明(ming)(ming)朝(chao)末年以接枝法發明(ming)(ming),后來(lai)廣泛種(zhong)(zhong)植,成為(wei)(wei)容縣的(de)特(te)產(chan)。據史料(liao)記載,萬歷十三年(1585年)刻(ke)本《容州志》記載:“柚(you)(you)(you)以容地(di)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田所產(chan)最負盛名(ming),香甜多(duo)汁;容地(di)年產(chan)二百萬只,運銷梧(wu)粵港(gang)各埠。”清乾(qian)隆(long)四十二年,乾(qian)隆(long)皇(huang)(huang)帝巡游江南(nan),官人夏(xia)紀(ji)綱(gang)把家鄉容縣沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田村出產(chan)的(de)蜜柚(you)(you)(you)獻給皇(huang)(huang)帝,乾(qian)隆(long)吃(chi)了連(lian)聲(sheng)贊(zan)好(hao),并(bing)召(zhao)見(jian)夏(xia)紀(ji)綱(gang),詢(xun)問(wen)是何佳(jia)(jia)果(guo)(guo)(guo)。夏(xia)紀(ji)綱(gang)回答(da)說:“叫(jiao)楊核(he)子。”皇(huang)(huang)帝道:“此(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)名(ming)字不佳(jia)(jia),應另取果(guo)(guo)(guo)名(ming)。”一位大臣在旁說:夏(xia)官家在沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田,千里迢迢,郵送佳(jia)(jia)果(guo)(guo)(guo)獻給皇(huang)(huang)上(shang),依臣愚見(jian),郵由(you)同音,又因為(wei)(wei)此(ci)果(guo)(guo)(guo)為(wei)(wei)喬木(mu)所生(sheng),用(yong)木(mu)旁的(de)“柚(you)(you)(you)”,稱為(wei)(wei)“沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you)”合適。皇(huang)(huang)帝聽罷,龍顏(yan)大悅,隨口贊(zan)道:“沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you),沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you),好(hao),好(hao)!”沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you)一得到(dao)天子的(de)贊(zan)賞,便(bian)很快繁衍起來(lai),沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田村附(fu)近越種(zhong)(zhong)越多(duo),那(nei)里的(de)土壤特(te)別適宜于它的(de)生(sheng)長,所產(chan)柚(you)(you)(you)果(guo)(guo)(guo)確(que)有“甜脆消渣,獨此(ci)一家”的(de)特(te)點。名(ming)聲(sheng)傳(chuan)開以后,外縣外省(sheng)紛(fen)紛(fen)前來(lai)引種(zhong)(zhong),產(chan)品(pin)質量雖然(ran)(ran)不能完全(quan)趕(gan)上(shang)地(di)道的(de)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you),便(bian)也是果(guo)(guo)(guo)中上(shang)品(pin),因種(zhong)(zhong)源來(lai)自沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田,又儀仗其名(ming)聲(sheng),不愿另起別名(ming),仍然(ran)(ran)沿用(yong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)(sha)田柚(you)(you)(you)之名(ming),直至今天。