Tongcheng Rice

Tongcheng Rice

　　Tongcheng rice enjoys a high reputation both within and outside the province and has been listed as an export product.

　　As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, the rice produced in areas such as Fanjiagang, Huayuanfan, and Liaofenggang in Tongcheng was sold as far as the capital city and highly praised. Historically, renowned rice varieties such as “Sanli Cun” and “Yangliu Xian” were cultivated, and both the cultivation techniques and processing methods were meticulously refined to maintain traditional characteristics. The processed rice is of superior quality, white in color, crystal clear, smooth and glossy, suitable for both dry and porridge dishes, and boasts a rich and delicious flavor. A local saying goes: “Sanli Cun, Ma Ke Xian — one person eats, two have their fill.” Tongcheng has long been known as a land of fish and rice, with the grain trade holding an absolute advantage among all industries. At that time, major grain businesses such as Wuhu Tonghe Grain Store, Nanjing Xiehe Grain Store, and Shanghai Tongda Grain Store primarily dealt in Tongcheng rice.

　　After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the state established two modern rice mills with advanced technology and sophisticated equipment in Fangang and Chengguan. The “Te’er” japonica rice produced there placed great emphasis on quality standards and strictly adhered to inspection and testing systems. Both incoming raw grains and outgoing rice met or exceeded national quality benchmarks, earning even higher renown across the province and beyond. It was honored with the title of High-Quality Rice by the Provincial Economic Commission and was included in the “China Famous and Quality Products Directory.” Since the reform and opening up, it has been successively sold to provinces and cities including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Tianjin, Sichuan, Guangdong, Shanghai, and Jiangsu. After the 1980s, “Te’er” japonica rice was listed as an export product by the State Foreign Trade Ministry, becoming a hot commodity in Southeast Asian countries, with an average annual export volume of around 3,000 tons.