Wuping Fairy Herb

Wuping Fairy Herb

Wuping Fairy Herb is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Wuping Fairy Herb is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Wuping Fairy Herb is a specialty of Wuping County, Longyan, Fujian.

　　Wuping Fairy Herb is a herbaceous plant of the genus Mesona in the Lamiaceae family, capable of growing up to 100 cm tall. The stem is initially covered with sparse soft hairs and fine bristles, which mostly fall off as it matures; the leaves are opposite, broadly ovate to narrowly ovate, with petioles 2–15 mm long; the raceme is 2–8 cm long and terminal. The dried product is brownish-black, with abundant leaves, unopened flowers, and a strong grassy aroma. Wuping Fairy Herb has high levels of gum and soluble substances, a fragrant grassy taste, and produces refreshing and flavorful beverages. It is an excellent raw material for making cooling tea, grass jelly syrup, grass jelly dessert, and black grass jelly. The cultivation of fairy herb in Wuping has a long history, and the Hakka people have traditionally enjoyed eating fairy herb jelly (locally called “xianshuidong”). Wuping is a Hakka region, and during hot summers, people like to make “xianshuidong” using fairy herb as a way to beat the heat. Since ancient times, fairy herb has been cultivated in fields and farmlands. According to relevant records, as early as 1986, the People’s Government of Zhongshan Township (now Zhongshan Town, Wuping County) listed fairy herb as one of the main cash crops. Over 20 years ago, some farmers in Zhongshan and Xiaba townships began large-scale artificial cultivation of fairy herb, with most products sold to Meizhou, Guangdong, and some sold locally for making xianshuidong. Currently, Wuping has become the country’s largest production base for fairy herb in terms of yield, quality, and planting area. The main variety, “Minxuan Fairy Herb No. 1,” yields 400–800 kg per mu; it was officially certified as a crop variety by the Fujian Crop Variety Approval Committee in March 2010. After Wuping Fairy Herb received national geographical indication registration, its brand recognition and product added value significantly increased. Statistics show that the average net income per mu from cultivating fairy herb exceeds 1,000 yuan, over 40% more than traditional rice. This makes full use of agricultural resources, transforms resource advantages, promotes land transfer, improves the quality and safety of agricultural products, and increases farmers’ income.

　　Region: Fujian

　　Applicant: Fujian Wuping County Lulu Fairy Herb Professional Cooperative

　　Region: 2013

　　Geographical Scope

　　Wuping Fairy Herb originates and is primarily produced in Wuping County, Fujian Province. Its protected area lies between 115°59′–116°23′ east longitude and 24°52′–25°08′ north latitude; the protected region includes 12 townships: Pingchuan Town, Wan’an Township, Chengxiang Township, Dongliu Township, Zhongshan Town, Xiaba Township, Minzhu Township, Zhongchi Township, Yeqian Town, Xiangdong Township, Shifang Town, and Wudong Township, covering 144 villages; the protected area spans 162,000 hectares, with a current planting area of 1,400 hectares and a yield of 10,500 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: The dried fairy herb is brownish-black with a fragrant aroma, high content of soluble sugar and flavonoids, suitable for processing into cooling tea. The finished product is fragrant, refreshing, and has a clear color. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: High gum content, with a general gum yield (dry herb) of around 40%. The gum has significant structural properties (hardness 24.097g, elasticity index 1.135, cohesion coefficient 0.456), crude polysaccharides ≥20g/kg, total flavonoids ≥105g/kg. 3. Safety Requirements: 3.1 Product quality standards should comply with the “Compendium of Materia Medica” or “Supplements to the Compendium of Materia Medica.” 3.2 The production environment of Wuping Fairy Herb strictly adheres to the “Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Production Environment Conditions” standard. 3.3 Packaging: Packaging materials must meet national food packaging hygiene requirements and environmental protection standards. Sales packaging should also comply with GB/T17109 regulations. All packaging materials must be clean, hygienic, dry, non-toxic, odorless, and food-safe. All packaging must be secure and leak-proof. 3.4 Storage: Finished products must not be stored outdoors. Storage warehouses must be clean, dry, ventilated, and free of rodents and pests. Finished products must not be stored, transported, or kept together with toxic, harmful, spoiled, or foul-smelling items. The storage process must comply with NY/T5190-2002 standards. 3.5 Stacking and Handling: Wuping Fairy Herb must be stacked and handled in a civilized manner. Transport vehicles must be clean, hygienic, and dry. Products must not be mixed or transported with toxic or harmful items. Rain exposure during transport is strictly prohibited. Batches must be clearly labeled, stacking must be neat, and the environment must remain clean.