Zhangzhou Changtai Crystal Ginger

Zhangzhou Changtai Crystal Ginger

　　Zhangzhou Changtai Crystal Ginger is a specialty from Changtai County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province. Known for its unique health benefits such as regulating digestion, dispelling cold and wind, and improving spleen and stomach function, it has become a trendy and healthy food item.

　　Crystal ginger is a traditional preserved sweet from Changtai, with its production dating back to the Song and Yuan dynasties. It is made from fresh ginger and sugar, offering both a uniquely flavorful treat and medicinal benefits for preventing and treating illnesses. As a result, it has been passed down through generations and remains widely loved by the public, becoming a renowned traditional product of Changtai. The production technique of Changtai crystal ginger has been included in the provincial intangible cultural heritage list. The product features a clean and bright appearance, and its taste is sweet with a hint of spiciness, making it uniquely flavorful. Consuming it helps eliminate phlegm, soothe coughs, improve digestion, and strengthen the spleen—making it a healthy food suitable for all ages.

　　In modern times, Changtai Crystal Ginger comes in various forms such as slices, strips, granules, and diced pieces. The production process is mainly handmade and highly meticulous. First, large, plump, and round ginger roots are selected as raw materials, which are then sliced or cubed after peeling. Next, they go through a series of processes including blanching, debittering, removing stickiness, cleaning, soaking in sugar, sweet boiling, sugar crystallization, and powder coating, ultimately yielding the final crystal ginger product.

　　To preserve and protect the precious craftsmanship behind "Changtai Crystal Ginger," in 2004, artisans led by Wang Dongsheng introduced an authentic-tasting series of Changtai Crystal Ginger products under the registered trademark “Lianggang Mountain,” marketed as the “Crystal Ginger Farmers’ Heritage” series. Starting in 2006, Changtai Crystal Ginger has participated in the Cross-Strait Flower Expo and Agricultural Cooperation Fair five times and has won multiple awards for best-selling products.