Ninghua Job’s Tears

Ninghua Job’s Tears

Ninghua Job’s Tears is a product certified with a Geographical Indication (GI) for agricultural products.

　　Job’s Tears, also known as Coix seed or Yi Yi Ren, is one of China’s ancient cultivated crops with a long history of planting in Ninghua. Records of Coix seed can be found in the Ming Dynasty Chongzhen edition of the “Ninghua County Annals.” In ancient times, locals in Ninghua called it “Mita Su.” Ninghua Job’s Tears are known for being soft, sticky, fragrant, delicate, smooth, and pleasantly aromatic after cooking. The county plants Job’s Tears on an annual area of 300–600 hectares, with an annual total output of 700–1,400 tons and an annual output value of 10–20 million yuan.

　　To enhance the visibility and competitiveness of Ninghua Job’s Tears, last year the Ninghua County government applied to the National Ministry of Agriculture for Geographical Indication registration and protection of the agricultural product. After preliminary review, expert evaluation, and public announcement, it obtained national GI registration and protection this year. To promote the cultivation of Job’s Tears, Ninghua County has also introduced six new varieties of Job’s Tears from Taiwan and other parts of the province, and established over 1,000 acres of experimental demonstration bases for variety certification and high-yield cultivation in three towns—Zhongsha, Caofang, and Huaitu.

　　It is understood that a Geographical Indication for agricultural products refers to a unique label indicating that the agricultural product originates from a specific region and is named after that region. Obtaining national GI registration and protection is of profound significance for further promoting the Ninghua Job’s Tears brand and developing it into a competitive specialty industry.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Ninghua County is located at the southeastern foot of the Wuyi Mountains, in western Fujian. It borders Mingxi and Qingliu to the east, Changting to the south, Shicheng and Guangchang of Jiangxi Province to the west, and Jianning to the north. Its geographical coordinates are between 25°58′ and 26°40′ north latitude, and 116°22′ and 117°02′ east longitude. The county spans 66.2 km from east to west and 76.7 km from north to south, covering a land area of 2,413 square kilometers with 28,107 hectares of arable land. The county administers 4 towns, 12 townships, 210 administrative villages, and 12 neighborhood committees. It has a total population of 346,300, including 304,200 rural residents. The geographical protection area covers all 16 townships (towns) within the county. Ninghua Job’s Tears are the hulled and processed seeds of the Coix lacryma-jobi plant from the Poaceae family. Due to their superior quality, they have a specific consumer base. The protected production area for Ninghua Job’s Tears under the Geographical Indication spans 20,000 hectares with an output of 37,600 tons. The current production scale is 600 hectares, with an output of 1,400 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: White in color, full, round, smooth, with deep and wide ventral grooves; wide oval shape, with a thousand-seed weight of 58–68g and external dimensions of 4–6mm × 3.8–5.5mm. Firm in texture, with a white cross-section, starchy feel, faint aroma, and slightly sweet taste. After cooking, they are soft, sticky, fragrant, delicate, smooth, and pleasantly aromatic, exhibiting typical characteristics of being “soft, sweet, and thick.” 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Contain 13–17% crude protein, 2–3% Job’s Tears oil, and 14–16% total amino acids. 3. Safety Requirements: The growing environment and product quality of Ninghua Job’s Tears meet relevant national mandatory technical standards: ① The growing environment strictly complies with NY5332-2006, the Technical Specifications for the Growing Environment of Non-polluted Field Crops. ② Product standards strictly follow NY5305-2005, the Standard for Non-polluted Food — Millet. 4. Packaging: Ninghua Job’s Tears products are made from high-quality Coix seeds produced within Ninghua County. The packaging materials must meet national food hygiene requirements and environmental protection standards. 5. Storage: Finished product warehouses must be clean, dry, well-ventilated, and free of rodents and pests. Finished products must be stacked on pallets, at least 10 cm above the ground and 20 cm away from walls, and must not be stored outdoors or with toxic, harmful, spoiled, malodorous, or damp items. Their transportation and storage processes comply with NY/T5190-2002. 6. Stacking and Handling: Job’s Tears should be handled gently and with care during stacking and transport. Transport vehicles must be clean and hygienic, and must not be mixed with toxic, harmful, or other perishable goods. Any vehicle or container previously used for fertilizers, pesticides, hazardous chemicals, or other easily spoiled food must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed before use. When Job’s Tears are awaiting shipment at trading markets or freight stations, they must be batched clearly, neatly stacked, and stored in a clean, well-ventilated environment. Direct sunlight, rain, freezing, and overheating must be avoided. Storage and transport shall comply with the “Green Food Storage and Transport Guidelines” (NY/T1056-2006).