Lai Fang Peanuts

Lai Fang Peanuts

Lai Fang Peanuts are a product with geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Lai Fang Peanuts originated in the Ming Dynasty. According to the "Qingliu County Annals" (Guangxu Edition), Daoguang Edition, under the section on local products: “Planted in March, the vines do not grow very long. It is commonly said: the flowers fall to the ground and grow in the soil, hence the name,” the record states. Situated at the foot of Dafeng Mountain, the highest peak in Qingliu County with an altitude of 1,705.7 meters, Lai Fang Township benefits from its high elevation, long hours of sunlight, and its location at the convergence zone of northern and southern air currents, along with unique climatic and soil conditions. These factors enrich the peanuts with minerals such as zinc and selenium, as well as vitamin E. Lai Fang Peanuts have clear surface patterns, thin shells that are easy to peel, are slender and small in size, with large, red-hued kernels. They taste sweet when chewed, and when used in soups, they impart a rich aroma, a bright red broth, and a deliciously mellow flavor. With their red skins and red kernels, slender shape (mostly containing 3–4 kernels), and high nutritional value, they are regarded as a “sacred fruit” by the Hakka people. The produced red-skinned peanuts are of superior quality, and thanks to their unique processing methods, offer a crispy texture, are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and provide various health benefits such as harmonizing the spleen and stomach, nourishing blood, and promoting hair growth and darkening. As a result, they are highly favored by consumers. In 2012, they were listed as a protected rare local variety in Fujian Province. Lai Fang Peanuts are a distinctive agricultural project that has rapidly emerged in Qingliu County in recent years. The Qingliu County Government places great emphasis on the red-skinned peanut industry in Lai Fang, introducing supportive policies, strengthening brand development, and showing very promising prospects for industrial growth. In November 2012, Lai Fang Peanuts obtained Green Food certification, significantly enhancing brand awareness and product added value. In recent years, driven by leading enterprises and through a company + base + farmer operation model, the county has developed over 5,000 acres of Lai Fang red-skinned peanut cultivation, with an average annual output value of 35.4 million yuan, making it an important project for increasing farmers’ incomes. The Lai Fang red-skinned peanut industry currently integrates planting, production, processing with eco-tourism and red tourism, enriching Qingliu’s tourism offerings, promoting the development of its tourism industry, and greatly enhancing the influence of Lai Fang red-skinned peanut cultivation.

　　Lai Fang Township is abundant in peanuts. The nutritional value of Lai Fang Peanuts: Peanut fruits contain nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins A, B6, E, K, as well as minerals including calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They provide eight essential amino acids needed by the human body and unsaturated fatty acids, and contain substances such as lecithin, choline, carotene, and crude fiber. The fat content is 44%–45%, protein content is 24%–36%, and sugar content is about 20%. They are rich in vitamins B2, PP, A, D, E, as well as calcium and iron, and also contain multiple vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. They help promote the development of human brain cells and enhance memory.

　　Planting (oil crops)

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographical indication protection area for the agricultural product “Lai Fang Peanuts” includes the small basins on the eastern foothills of the Dafeng Mountain Range, covering nine townships and 35 villages within Qingliu County: Lai Fang Township, Tianyuan Township, Shawu Township, Lingdi Town, Lijia Township, Changxiao Town, Litian Township, Songkou Town, and Yupeng Township. It spans from Guanwei Village in Shawu Township in the east, to Liaofang Village in Litian Township in the west, to Nanshanxia in Lijia Township in the south, and to Gaolai Village in Songkou Town in the north. Geographic coordinates: 116°26′27" – 117°3′1" east longitude, 25°26′27" – 26°21′ north latitude. The total protected area is 700 square kilometers, with an annual planting area of 1,000 hectares and an annual yield of 0.3 million tons.