What is a Sand Pear?
The sand pear, formally known as Hua Hong, is also called Hai Tang Guo (in Hebei), Wen Lin Lang Guo (in the Compendium of Materia Medica), and Lin Yu (in the Illustrated Treatise on Common Trees of Hebei). It belongs to the apple genus within the Rosaceae family, growing as a deciduous small tree. Its leaves are ovate or elliptical, with abruptly pointed tips and very fine serrations along the edges.It blooms at the transition between spring and summer, with flowers arranged in umbels at branch tips. Both pedicels and calyxes bear downy hairs. Buds appear red, fading to a reddish blush after opening.Fruits ripen in autumn, appearing as flattened spheres 4–5 cm in diameter, colored yellow or red. Widely distributed across China's Yellow River and Yangtze River basins and Liaoning Province, growing at elevations 50–1,300 meters. Commonly found on mountain slopes, flatlands, and terraced fields in valleys. Raw taste resembles apples. Numerous varieties exist, propagated via grafting, seed sowing, or division. An endemic Chinese species. Deliciously sweet and tart.
Native to Yanqing and Changping districts in Beijing, as well as Huailai County in Hebei Province. This variety exhibits numerous subspecies. In Beijing, two main types exist: an early-ripening type known as Sweet Sand Red (also called Fetal Red Sand Quince) and a late-ripening type called Stubborn Sand Quince (also known as Sour Sand Quince).
Nutritional Value of Sand Pears
Sand pears, formally known as Hua Hong, also called Hai Tang Guo, Wen Lin Lang Guo, or Lin Ying, belong to the Malus genus of the Rosaceae family. They are deciduous small trees with ovate or elliptical leaves featuring abruptly pointed tips and very fine serrated edges.Sand pears are rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, calories, crude fiber, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
Per 100 grams: moisture 82 grams, protein 0.3 grams,fat 0.8g, carbohydrates 15.1g, calories 69kcal, crude fiber 0.9g, ash 0.2g, calcium 45mg, phosphorus 9mg, iron 0.9mg, carotene 0.05mg, thiamine 0.02mg, riboflavin 0.02mg,Niacin 0.2mg, Ascorbic acid 1mg, Potassium 148mg, Sodium 0.9mg, Magnesium 7.3mg.
Dietary Benefits of Pears
1. Promotes Salivation and Quenches Thirst: Rich in organic acids and vitamins, pears stimulate saliva production, relieve thirst, aid digestion, alleviate irritability, and break down food stagnation.
2. Astringent and Anti-Diarrheal: With its sour and astringent properties, the quince fruit effectively checks seminal leakage and alleviates diarrhea. It serves as an excellent dietary remedy for diarrhea and seminal emission.
3. Anthelmintic: A decoction of quince roots possesses anthelmintic and parasiticidal effects, treating diseases caused by tapeworms, roundworms, and other intestinal parasites.
4. Enhancing Vision: Fresh or dried sand pear leaves clear heat, improve vision, eliminate parasites, and neutralize toxins. They treat cataracts, corneal opacities, and scabies in children. Nutritional Recipes with Sand Pear 1. Sand Pear Decoction 10 semi-ripe sand pears.Wash and slice the sand pears. Place in a pot with 1000ml water and boil down to 500ml. Take one bowl twice daily on an empty stomach, consuming both fruit and broth. This soup harmonizes the stomach, resolves food stagnation, and stops diarrhea. Suitable for abdominal pain and diarrhea caused by enteritis or dysentery.
2. Sand Pear Juice
3 sand pears. Wash sand pears, remove pits, mash, and strain to extract juice. Take 10 ml twice daily. This juice aids digestion, relieves food stagnation, and stops diarrhea and dysentery. Suitable for pediatric diarrhea and dysentery.
3. Sand Pear and Euryale Seed Decoction
50g fresh sand pears, 30g euryale seeds. Slice sand pears cleanly, combine with euryale seeds, add 3 bowls of water, and simmer into 1 bowl of decoction. Consume in 2 divided doses daily. This decoction astringes essence and stops seminal emission, suitable for male conditions of nocturnal emission and spermatorrhea.
4. Vinegar-Soaked Sand Pear Powder
5 sand pears, 50g white vinegar. Wash sand pears, cut into ten pieces, sun-dry, then grind into fine powder. Mix thoroughly with white vinegar. Take 1 spoonful twice daily. This formula promotes qi circulation, alleviates pain, transforms phlegm, and disperses nodules. Suitable for pediatric scrofula and emaciation.