Shitai Cornus officinalis

Shitai Cornus officinalis

　　In the third batch of “China’s Famous and Special Economic Forests” list named by the State Forestry Administration, Shitai County was included and honored as the “Hometown of Chinese Cornus officinalis.”

Cornus officinalis, also known as jujube bark, is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb with over 2000 years of medicinal history. It is the leading medicinal herb variety in Shitai County, where it has been cultivated for more than 500 years. Tests have shown that the active ingredients in Shitai’s Cornus officinalis are 5% to 10% higher than those reported from other producing areas such as Zhejiang and Henan, especially with over 10% higher levels of ursolic acid, the main component. Moreover, pesticide residues and heavy metal content are significantly lower than in other regions, earning it the reputation of having “the highest quality jujube bark in China” and making it the finest grade of Cornus officinalis on the market.

Currently, the high-quality Cornus officinalis cultivation area in Shitai County reaches 8,000 mu, mainly distributed in high-altitude mountainous regions above 500 meters, with an annual output of 120 tons, accounting for over half of the province’s total cultivation area and production.