At the just concluded National People's Congress, a small fruit called Hua Juhong went viral. The reason was that Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying went to the Guangdong delegation's group meeting to attend the meeting. She ate two pieces of orange red throat candy and praised its moisturizing effect as "the most comfortable" and "the best". So, what is the origin of turning orange red? Why does it have the reputation of "southern ginseng"? This small fruit was once a tribute from the imperial court in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the variety of Citrus grandiflorus was Huazhou pomelo, a plant in the Rutaceae family, or the immature and nearly mature dried outer skin of pomelo. Harvesting fruits in the summer when they are not yet ripe, blanching them in boiling water, cutting the skin into 5 or 7 pieces, removing the pulp and part of the mesocarp, pressing them into shape, and drying them. Huaju Hong is a unique authentic Chinese medicinal herb in Huazhou City, Maoming, Guangdong Province. Huaju Hong is distinguished from other types of orange red by its authentic ingredients. As early as the Southern Song Dynasty, Huazhou had already started planting Huaju red. Huazhou has a unique geological structure of the Mengshi ore vein underground, and its unique Mengshi soil makes the content of naringin in Huaju red several times higher than in other regions, while activating the genetic program for the long hair growth of Huaju red fruits. Once you leave the land of Huazhou, the orange red fruit will lose its iconic fuzzy coat. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that Hua Juhong said, "Treat phlegm syndrome, eliminate greasiness and grain accumulation, sober up, broaden the middle, and relieve crab venom. Visible functions include resolving phlegm and regulating qi, strengthening the spleen and digestion. It is commonly used clinically for phlegm stagnation in the chest, coughing and wheezing, food stagnation, vomiting and hiccup. Huazhou Orange Red was listed as a tribute to the court in the Qing Dynasty due to its outstanding therapeutic effects, and enjoyed the reputation of "one piece worth one gold". Huajuhong was listed in the National Geographical Indication Product Protection List as early as 2006, and was selected as an intangible cultural heritage project in Guangdong Province in 2012. In 2024, it was approved to be included in the "List of Substances that are Both Food and Chinese Medicinal Materials According to Tradition", which is the list of "medicinal and edible products of the same origin". The identification method for orange peel during the National People's Congress is called "orange peel". The small fruit that Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying held and knocked on each other at the meeting was included in the "Guangdong Province Chinese Herbal Medicine Standards (Volume 2)" in 2011 under the standard name "pomelo fruit". That is to say, Orange Red Tire is also a high-quality traditional Chinese medicine certified by local standards. The functions and indications of orange peel and orange peel are similar, both coming from the Rutaceae plant grapefruit. Orange peel is an immature and young fruit picked, and the surface of the peel can have a fuzz coverage of over 95%. The cut orange peel has a smooth surface and emits an extremely rich aroma. The amount of embryo fruit produced in Huazhou in a year is limited, so embryo fruit is a very precious variety among the orange red varieties. The core method of identifying orange red is to look at the fuzz. Whether it is made into slices, fruit shells, or the entire "embryo fruit", its surface is covered with a dense, delicate, and natural layer of yellow green or gray green fuzz. This is the "ID card" bestowed by Huazhou's unique geographical environment and soil conditions, with a soft touch that feels like touching a piece of velvet cloth. Next is the aroma: close to the orange red color, there is a rich, steady, and refreshing compound aroma of tangerine peel and medicinal herbs intertwined. Even after being stored for a period of time, the aroma remains long-lasting. Break open a small piece and add hot water, which will quickly expand and enlarge like a sponge, while quickly sinking to the bottom of the cup, resulting in a crystal clear golden color. Like tangerine peel, the longer the storage time, the more fragrant and mellow it becomes, and the price is not cheap. After aging, there will be white flower spots on its cross-section, which are also called "Mengshi dots, Snowflake dots, Chrysanthemum dots". During the growth process of Huaju Hong, it will absorb the "Mengshi mineral" in the soil. After a few years of aging, the element of Mengshi will be revealed. These groups of people are most compatible with Huaju Hong. Modern pharmacological research has shown that Huaju Hong contains volatile oils and flavonoids, which have the effects of diluting sputum, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, promoting gastric juice secretion, digestion and accumulation, protecting cardiovascular health, and sobering up. The core function of turning orange red is to regulate qi, reduce phlegm, dry dampness, and digest food, with a tendency towards warmth. Huaju Hong is suitable for the following types of people: those with cough and phlegm, especially those with white phlegm; Chronic pharyngitis patients; People who smoke frequently; People who frequently socialize and have heavy phlegm and dampness. When the weather turns cool and dry with a lot of haze, people are prone to catching a cold, coughing, and producing a lot of phlegm. It turns orange red and is warm but not dry, which can help reduce phlegm and protect the voice. It is more suitable for autumn and winter seasons. If there is a lot of phlegm and dampness in spring and summer, it can also be used in small amounts, but do not drink in large quantities for a long time. Two classic orange red tea drinks, orange red honey water, choose 1 to 2 dried orange red tablets (about 3 to 5 grams), with an appropriate amount of honey. Brew in boiling water, cover and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. After the water temperature drops below 60 ℃, add honey and mix for consumption. Effect: Moisturize the lungs, reduce phlegm, and relieve cough. Citrus red has a bitter taste, and adding honey can not only season it, but also alleviate its warm and dry nature. Select 5 grams of Citrus Red, 5 grams of Pueraria Flower, and 2 slices of ginger for Citrus Red Ge Flower Tea. Put all the ingredients into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water and boil for about 15 minutes. Serve as a substitute for tea. Effect: This formula can relieve alcohol toxicity, invigorate the spleen and stomach, and is suitable for those who experience bloating or nausea after drinking alcohol. Taboos for the use of Huaju Hong: 1. Huaju Hong has strong energy and should not be consumed for a long time. As a tea drink, the dosage should not be too large, usually 2 to 5g for adults. 2. Huaju Hong is warm and dry in nature, and should be used with caution for cough caused by yin deficiency or lung heat and phlegm. 3. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and individuals with insufficient Qi and blood should take medication after traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment. 4. Take at least 2 hours apart from other medications to prevent mutual influence. (New Society)