Dangyuja

Dangyuja
Species Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck
Origin Korea

Dangyuja (당유자, Korean pronunciation: [taŋ.ju.dʑa]) is a Korean non-hybrid citrus fruit that is a specialty of Jeju Island.[1] In Jeju language, it is called Daengyuji(댕유지; pronounced [tɛŋ.ju.dʑi]).[2] Dangyuja has a similar shape and flavour to yuja, but is genealogically a variety of pomelo.

Dangyuja has been included in the Ark of Taste, an international catalogue of endangered heritage foods.[3]

Description and uses

The evergreen broad-leaved tree grows to an average height of 6 metres (20 ft), with branches that have thorns on them, and the leaves are 10–13 centimetres (3.9–5.1 in) long. The fruit is 10–12 centimetres (3.9–4.7 in) long, 9–10 centimetres (3.5–3.9 in) wide, and usually weighs 300–500 grams (11–18 oz).[4]

The colour of ripe fruit can range from dark yellow to yellow-orange. The rind is about 9 millimetres (0.35 in) thick,[4] very fragrant, and slightly bitter, whil the flesh and juice is rich in sourness, and also with a unique fragrance.

Today, the fruit is used mainly for tea, dangyujacha, whose preparation is very similar to that of yujacha, "yuja tea". Back in the days dangyuja was often used in home remedies to prevent and treat common cold. A soup called daengyujikkultang (literally "dangyuja honey tang"), was made of the crushed flesh of dangyuja, honey, and ginger. Cooked in the ashes of a fire, the mixture attains a thin syrup-like consistency. People used the cooled soup to treat cold.[4]

In traditional Korean medicine, the fruit is used to treat various gastrointestinal ailments. Dongui Bogam, an encyclopaedic medical book published in 1613, writes that dangyujas can help detoxify and purify the stomach, treat alcohol intoxication, and stimulate a poor appetite.

See also

References

  1. Kim, Gyo-Nam; Shin, Jung-Geun; Jang, Hae-Dong (2009). "Antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of Dangyuja (Citrus grandis Osbeck) extract treated with Aspergillus saitoi". Food Chemistry. 117 (1): 35–41. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.03.072 via Science Direct.
  2. 송, 문영 (11 February 2016). "당유자(唐柚子)에 대한 생각" [A Consideration on Dangyuja]. Headline Jeju (in Korean). Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. "Dangyuja Pomelo". Slow Food International. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 소윤, 김 (18 June 2015). "침 잔뜩 고이는 신맛이 매력 '제주댕유지'" [Salivating sourness is the beauty of 'Jeju Daengyuji']. The Korea Rural Women Weekly News (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2016.
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