Submature Bitter Orange

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi.

Semi-spherical, 3~5.5cm diameter. Exocarp is greenish-brown or brown, slightly rough, scattered numerous small oil ducts, center has obvious scars of stigma base or round scar of fruit stem. Mesocarp of cut surface is 0.6~1.2cm thick, yellowish-white and relatively smooth, slightly rolled over, scattered vascular bundles, edges have 1-2 rows of brownish-yellow oil ducts. Hard texture, hard to break, 7~12 sections of pulp, a few have 15 pulp sections, inside pulp is dry and wrinkled, brownish-yellow or dark brown, soft texture, seeds are stored inside. Axis is firm, 5~9mm wide, yellowish-white, with one round of intermittent vascular bundle spots. Aromatic odor, bitter, slightly sour taste.

Superior medicinal material has greenish-brown exocarp, thick flesh, hard texture, potent aromatic odor.

Acrid, bitter, sour, warm.

Moves qi, expands the center, moves stagnation, eliminates swelling.

Fried zhi qiao: Clean zhi qiao slices, fry with slow fire in pots, until turn yellow, or with fast fire until burnt-yellow, spray a little clean water to extinguish fire spark, take out and cool. Moderate the nature of medicinal material. Bran-fried zhi qiao: pu brans into pots and heat with middle fire until produce smoke, add clean zhi qiao, fry quickly until dark yellow and brans turn into burnt-yellow, take out and sift out brans, cool. Every 100kg zhiqiao need 10kg brans. Moderate acrid and dry nature of medicinal material, often applies to harmonizing stomach and resolving swelling. Salt-fried zhi qiao: clean zhi qiao, stir with salt water and cover until absorb totally, put into pots and fry with slow fire until dry. Take out and cool. Lead the medicine downward. Honey zhi qiao: dilute refined honey with boil water, add clean zhiqiao in and stir, cover until absorb totally, put into pots and fry with slow fire until not sticky to hands, take out and cool. Every 100kg zhiqiao need 25kg refined honey. Correct the odor and moderate the nature of medicinal material.

‘Pulps’: This refers to the pouch-like sections formed by the endocarp and the vesicle-filled carpels of citrus fruits.