Yinzhou Pickled Mustard Greens

Yinzhou Pickled Mustard Greens

Yinzhou Pickled Mustard Greens is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Yinzhou Pickled Mustard Greens is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Yinzhou is known as the hometown of pickled mustard greens in China. Snow mustard greens (also called snow cabbage) is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Brassica genus of the Cruciferae (mustard) family, and is a variety of the mustard species. The cultivation and pickling of these greens in Yinzhou District has a history of over 1,000 years, and historical records suggest that it may date back even further. The Qing Dynasty scholar Wang Bin wrote in the “Guang Qun Fang Pu”: “In Sichuan, there is a vegetable named snow mustard, which remains green even when other vegetables freeze under heavy snow. The pickled version of this vegetable boasts the following characteristics: a bright yellow color, fragrant taste, crisp texture without tough stems, and is delicious whether stir-fried, boiled, stewed, steamed, tossed, used as an ingredient, or made into broth. It is thus honored with the nickname ‘Qiuxia Salted Chicken’. Especially when preparing fish or greasy dishes, this pickled vegetable is an indispensable ingredient.”

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　Bright yellow color, fragrant taste, crisp texture without tough stems, and is delicious whether stir-fried, boiled, stewed, steamed, tossed, used as an ingredient, or made into broth. It is thus honored with the nickname ‘Qiuxia Salted Chicken’. Especially when preparing fish or greasy dishes, this pickled vegetable is an indispensable ingredient.

　　Geographical Range

　　Yinzhou Pickled Mustard Greens are cultivated throughout Yinzhou District, with main production areas located in twelve towns (or subdistricts): Qiuxia, Wuxiang, Dongwu, Xiaying, Shounan, Jiangshan, Hengxi, Yunlong, Zhanqi, Xianxiang, Tangxi, and Zhangshui. The planting area spans 18,000 to 20,000 mu, producing 52,500 tons of fresh greens, 37,200 tons of pickled mustard products, and achieving a total output value of 150 million yuan. There are 20 pickled mustard processing enterprises in the region (including 3 designated as Ningbo municipal agricultural leading enterprises). The production area lies between longitude 121°08’ and 121°54’, and latitude 29°37’ and 29°57’, covering a total area of 780 square kilometers. Most of the cultivation is concentrated in the southeastern part of Yinzhou.