道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)紅(hong)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)子是湖南永州(zhou)道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)名產(chan),道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)舊稱(cheng)道(dao)州(zhou)。紅(hong)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)子在道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)已(yi)有200余(yu)年的(de)(de)栽培歷(li)史。從(cong)80年代開(kai)始,道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)種植面(mian)積均(jun)穩定(ding)在2萬畝(mu)左(zuo)右,主要集中在道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)清(qing)塘、蚣壩、審(shen)章塘等(deng)地。到道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)來做客的(de)(de),不(bu)管是在酒(jiu)家(jia)飯店,還是農家(jia)小院,坐上飯桌之前(qian),就會有一小盤(pan)(碗(wan))紅(hong)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)子等(deng)著你了。特別是在清(qing)塘、營(ying)江農村(cun),走的(de)(de)時候,主人也不(bu)忘把那碗(wan)沒吃完(wan)的(de)(de)紅(hong)瓜(gua)(gua)(gua)子倒在你的(de)(de)衣兜里,"沒事的(de)(de)時候嗑"。
紅(hong)(hong)瓜子(zi)為籽瓜的(de)種子(zi),籽瓜是(shi)西瓜品種中的(de)一種,個(ge)體小而(er)籽多。道縣紅(hong)(hong)瓜子(zi)的(de)特點是(shi)顏色鮮紅(hong)(hong),顆粒飽滿,芳香(xiang)可口,含有(you)豐富的(de)蛋白質、脂肪和多種維生素,有(you)利尿通便、助消化等(deng)功效(xiao),是(shi)高級點心(xin)的(de)上等(deng)配料。由于(yu)瓜子(zi)特有(you)的(de)紅(hong)(hong)色,還(huan)成為逢(feng)年過節、新(xin)婚喜慶(qing)招待親朋、貴客(ke)的(de)佳(jia)品。
道縣(xian)紅(hong)瓜(gua)子(zi)(zi)栽培品種(zhong)以江西信豐(feng)(feng)瓜(gua)子(zi)(zi)為(wei)主,全生育期約為(wei)90天,一般4月下旬播(bo)種(zhong),7月下旬收(shou)獲,常(chang)與(yu)紅(hong)薯、玉米、大豆套種(zhong)。每年(nian)春(chun)天播(bo)種(zhong),秋后(hou)成(cheng)(cheng)熟,收(shou)獲時將(jiang)砸(za)爛,取出(chu)籽(zi)瓤放在(zai)籮(luo)筐里揉搓,淘洗得(de)籽(zi),曬干即成(cheng)(cheng)。紅(hong)瓜(gua)子(zi)(zi)含有豐(feng)(feng)富蛋白質(zhi)、脂肪(fang)和多種(zhong)維生素,有利尿、助消化等功能。
道縣(xian)紅瓜子(zi)的(de)鮮(xian)瓜可以(yi)賣(mai)到(dao)0.5元每(mei)斤,曬干的(de)瓜子(zi)可以(yi)賣(mai)到(dao)25甚至30元每(mei)斤。