Yu Zhu

Yu Zhu

　　　　Product origin: Lin’an, Hangzhou

　　Product category: Medicinal flower

　　Product characteristics: Warm in nature, sweet and bitter in taste, with a fragrant aroma.

　　Product season: From sprouting to harvest, it takes 230–240 days, indicating a long growth period.

　　Product efficacy: It has the effects of strengthening the spleen and tonifying the middle energizer, drying dampness, promoting urination and reducing sweating, particularly excelling in eliminating dampness and promoting diuresis. In addition to being used in traditional Chinese prescriptions, it can also be sliced and steeped alone as a drink to treat conditions such as spleen and stomach dampness, and weakness in the limbs. The Yuqian Distillery also uses it to produce Yu Zhu wine.

　　Product introduction: Produced in the Tianmu Mountain area around Yuqian region of Lin’an City, this white atractylodes is known as Yu Zhu due to its superior quality. This precious Yu Zhu, when cut open, reveals a pale yellow, chrysanthemum-like cross-section, and if dotted with cinnabar-like specks, is considered even better. Its fragrance is incomparable, making it comparable to ginseng. In the medicinal field, it is often said that “ginseng is to the north what atractylodes is to the south,” referring to how, due to differences in soil and climate, atractylodes has a tonic effect on northerners similar to that of ginseng on southerners. During the Tongzhi and Guangxu reigns of the Qing Dynasty, drugstores in Yuqian County flourished, proudly displaying signs such as “Authentic Herbs” and “Yu Zhu Specialist.” They carefully selected roots shaped like chicken legs or cranes, skillfully processed them, leaving a five-inch stem and tying a red string before packaging them in exquisite boxes for sale as premium products. Their price was nearly that of ginseng, and their fame spread far and wide. Merchants from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, and Shanghai came to trade, and the product was even exported overseas.

　　Product history: In the year 1644, the eminent traditional Chinese medicine scholar Zhao Xuemin recorded in his book “Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica” (Bencao Gangmu Shiyi): “White atractylodes produced in Yuqian has mottled roots and stronger potency. These are recent variations of the plant. Not recording them would mean overlooking them in time.” Zhao was rigorous in his scholarship and encouraged himself with the motto “I’d rather be ridiculed for stepping on iron than be misled by credulity.” He had unique insights into plant evolution and species variation. He pointed out that Yu Zhu is a “recent variation” and thus documented it for future generations, lest it be overlooked, showing great care. This remains the earliest written record of Yu Zhu. Later, the “Qing Yi Lu” also recorded: “The Qianshan Mountain produces fine atractylodes, which is gnarled and grotesque, resembling the shapes of beasts.” This is not unfounded. Indeed, wild atractylodes grow in the West Tianmu Mountains. Its seeds are spread by the wind, known as wind-spread; those spread by birds are called bird-seed; and those excreted after being eaten by rodents and birds and then germinating are called rat-seed or sparrow-seed. Their shapes vary wildly, and later generations named them according to their appearances such as “Shanhe Atractylodes,” “Lion Atractylodes,” “Crane-top Atractylodes,” and “Chicken-leg Atractylodes.” But most resemble chicken legs, hence Yu Zhu is also called “Chicken-leg Atractylodes.” According to the “Yuqian County Annals,” where atractylodes grows, snow does not accumulate in winter, demonstrating the herb’s powerful medicinal properties.