Tangxian Jujube

Tangxian Jujube

Tangxian Jujube is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Tangxian Jujube is a specialty of Tangxian County in Hebei Province and a product with geographical indication status in China. With a long cultivation history, it is renowned for being “large in size, small in pit, thin-skinned, and thick-fleshed,” making it a premium variety of jujube that enjoys an outstanding reputation. Dried Tangxian Jujube contains as much as 60–70% sugar, along with protein, vitamins, and various beneficial trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, offering high nutritional and medicinal value.

　　　Tangxian is the hometown of Emperor Yao, located at the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains, and has a northern temperate monsoon climate. About 70% of the county’s land area (see Figure 1: Dried Tangxian Jujube)

　　consists of mountainous and hilly terrain, featuring loose soil that is well suited for jujube growth.

　　To promote jujube production, the county has developed specific plans and preferential policies, organizing and coordinating the development of the jujube industry. It has established a three-tiered (county, township, village) technical extension and service system for red dates, vigorously promoting high-yield, high-quality cultivation techniques, and strengthening pollution-free standardized production. The market development has been continuously improved, with two red date trademarks—“Golden Valley” and “Tangyao”—registered to brand the products and enhance their market competitiveness. By 2010, five specialized wholesale markets for red dates had been set up to facilitate purchases by out-of-town merchants. Leading enterprises such as the Tangxian Red Date Development Company and Lvyuan Fruit Products Factory have also been supported and expanded to develop processed products, increase the added value of red dates, and promote industrial optimization and upgrading. By 2010, the county’s red date cultivation area had reached 165,000 mu, with an annual output of over 20,000 tons and a production value of 117 million yuan.

　　 Honors and Certifications

　　　　As early as 1668, Tangxian Jujube was designated by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty as a tribute jujube for the imperial court. In 1990, it was rated as a first-class fruit by the Hebei Provincial Forestry Department. In 1999, it was recognized as a famous and high-quality agricultural product of Hebei Province. In 2000, Tangxian Jujube won a silver award at the China Red Date Trade Fair, as rated by the China Economic Forest Association; in 2003, it received the title of famous and high-quality agricultural product at the 7th China Agricultural Products Trade Fair; in 2006, it won a gold award at the 1st Hebei Famous and High-Quality Fruit Products Exhibition and Evaluation; in 2007, it was honored as an “Olympic Recommended Fruit” in the Comprehensive Selection of Recommended Fruits; in 2007, Golden Valley-brand large red dates were awarded second prize in the preliminary selection of Olympic recommended fruits at the 3rd China (International) Jujube Industry Development High-Level Forum. In the 2007 Beijing Olympic Recommended Fruits Comprehensive Selection, it was named an Olympic Recommended Fruit; in December 2008, it was named the “Hometown of Chinese Jujube” by the China Economic Forest Association; in April 2010, Tangxian Jujube became a nationally protected geographical indication product.

　　 Geographical Indication Product Protection

　　　　 Figure 2: Tangxian Jujube Geographical Indication License

　　In 2010, after review by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, it was decided to implement national geographical indication product protection for Tangxian Jujube starting from May 24, 2010 (Announcement No. 53 of 2010 by the Administration).

　　Protected Area

　　　　The protected geographical indication area for Tangxian Jujube includes the administrative regions of 18 townships in Tangxian County, Hebei Province: Daomaguan Township, Chuanli Town, Huangshikou Township, Yangjiao Township, Shimen Township, Juncheng Town, Qijiazu Township, Baihe Town, Micun Township, Dayang Township, Beidian Tou Township, Baoshui Township, Dutong Township, Luozhuang Township, Beiluo Town, Nandian Tou Township, Renhou Town, and Gaochang Town.