Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan

Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan

　　Category: Vegetable Product Name: Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan Registration Certificate No.: AGI01205 Ministry of Agriculture Announcement No./Date: No. 1989 (September 10, 2013) Brief Introduction to Cultural History According to the "Yugan County Annals": "Lou (Artemisia selengensis), a kind of grass, can be used to cook fish." Legend has it that the name "Artemisia selengensis" came from Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. During a drought when vegetables were scarce, a chef brought fresh Artemisia selengensis from the countryside to cook with cured meat. After tasting it, Zhu Yuanzhang remarked, "This fresh flavor is like that of a walking stick and mugwort—let’s call it Artemisia selengensis." The Tang Dynasty text "Dietary Therapy Materia Medica" described Artemisia selengensis as: "Fragrant and delicious, suitable for both raw consumption and steaming." The great Song Dynasty poet Su Shi also mentioned the edible value of Artemisia selengensis in his poem "A View of Spring River at Huichong": "Three or two peach blossoms beyond the bamboo, ducks know first when spring river water is warm. Mugwort covers the ground and reed sprouts are short, it's just the time when pufferfish swim upstream." Every March in the Jiangnan region, this wild plant called "Artemisia selengensis" floats on the surface of Lake Poyang. In Jiangxi, there is a well-known saying: "The grass of Lake Poyang is the treasure of Nanchang people." The theme song of the first Jiangxi dialect TV series "Ten Thousand Families in Songbai Lane" is "Stir-fried Artemisia selengensis with Cured Meat." As a famous Jiangxi dish, Stir-fried Artemisia selengensis with Cured Meat was included in the innovative menu for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

　　III. Geographic Scope

　　Yugan is located in the northeast of Jiangxi Province, in the lower reaches of the Xin River. It borders Wannian to the east, connects with Xinjian, Nanchang, and Jinxian counties to the west, neighbors Yujiang and Dongxiang counties to the south, and adjoins Poyang and Duchang counties to the north. The geographic protection area of Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan includes 15 townships (towns, farms) on the edge of Lake Poyang: Kangshan Township, Kangshan Reclamation Farm, Ruihong Town, Shikou Town, Xinfeng Reclamation Farm, Datang Township, Hongjiazui Township, Yuting Town, Dongtang Township, Wuni Town, Lusigang Township, Santang Township, Jiangbu Township, Fenggang Township, and Gubu Town. The protected area lies between longitude 116°24′06″ to 116°47′00″ and latitude 28°35′11″ to 28°52′03″. The protected area spans 20,000 hectares, with an annual yield of 690,000 tons.

　　IV. Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan belongs to the Asteraceae family, Artemisia genus, and is a perennial herbaceous plant. The plant has a fragrant aroma, grows 20–40 cm tall, and has a rhizome that grows upright or slightly oblique. The stem is slightly thick, with a diameter of 2–7 mm. Initially greenish-brown, the stem later turns purplish-red, smooth and hairless. The tender stems can be stir-fried and have a strong fragrance, with a crisp and tender texture that is refreshing to eat. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan contains 5.47%–5.67% dry matter, 5.75 mg/100 g–5.95 mg/100 g vitamin C, 1.15%–1.35% crude fiber, 0.87%–1.07% protein, 0.30%–0.50% soluble sugar (calculated as glucose), 0.23%–0.43% fat, 346 mg/kg–350 mg/kg calcium (calculated as Ca), 13.9 mg/kg–15.9 mg/kg phosphorus (calculated as P), and 3.2 mg/kg–5.2 mg/kg iron (calculated as Fe). 3. Safety Requirements: Products of Lake Poyang Artemisia selengensis from Yugan comply with the NY5089-2005 standard for "Pollution-Free Leafy Vegetables."