Pengji Peanuts

Pengji Peanuts

Pengji peanuts are a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Pengji Peanuts

　　Peanuts are a famous specialty of Pengji Town, well known for their high yield and excellent quality. The peanut shells here are thin and glossy, with clear veining, plump kernels, bright red skins, and milky-white kernels that are crispy and delicious to eat. “Hairy shell, red veil, housing a white chubby inside” is a riddle the locals made up for peanuts.

　　There are several rivers in Pengji Town, including the Daqing River, Longgong River, and Xiao Wen River. The land along these rivers is mostly flat sandy loam, with soft soil, good ventilation, high ground temperature, and is highly suitable for peanut cultivation. Historically, peanuts have been a traditional crop in Pengji. The peanut planting area here is large, with perennial sowing of over

　　40,000 mu, accounting for about

　　% of the total arable land in the town; the average yield per mu is around 300 kilograms, with an annual total output of approximately 14,000 tons. Due to the large quantity and high quality, they have always been a best-selling product with an outstanding reputation.

　　Peanuts are originally from Brazil, and the exact time of their introduction to China is unclear. According to research, peanut cultivation in Pengji Town began during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Over the years, locals have accumulated rich experience in peanut selection, cultivation, and processing. In the early 1950s, the high-yield large peanuts cultivated in Houting Village of the town could yield up to 350 kilograms per mu, and were named by the then Tai’an Prefecture government as

　　“

　　Dongping Large Vine Peanuts

　　”

　　, which were exhibited at the regional agricultural exhibition hall and promoted throughout the area. After the reform and opening up, with the rapid development and popularization of agricultural science and technology, Pengji Town successively introduced high-quality peanut varieties such as Xuzhou

　　684, Yanhua No. 1, Luhua No. 9, and Baisha Fruit, and promoted new techniques across the town such as intercropping with wheat, practical formula fertilization, and pest prevention, further boosting stable and high peanut yields. Due to the good soil quality in Pengji, coupled with the prevalence of pig farming among locals—who generally avoid using chemical fertilizers for peanut cultivation and instead apply large amounts of organic manure to enhance soil fertility—varieties introduced from elsewhere also demonstrate stronger advantages here than in their places of origin. For example,

　　“

　　Yanhua

　　No. 1

　　”

　　and

　　“

　　Luhua

　　No. 9

　　”

　　produce large, thin-shelled kernels with high oil content, becoming prized varieties loved by consumers.

　　Peanuts belong to the legume family and are annual herbaceous plants, one of China’s important economic crops. They have many aliases, such as Qiansui Zi, Luohua Sheng, Fan Dou, Di Guo, Changsheng Guo, and Wanshou Guo. Ancient Chinese texts contain numerous records about peanuts. Before the Jin Dynasty, peanuts were called “Qiansui Zi.” The Western Jin Dynasty’s “Records of Southern Plants and Trees” states: “Qiansui Zi has vines that emerge from the ground, with the fruit growing beneath the roots.” The Yuan Dynasty referred to them as “Luohua Sheng,” and the Yuan Dynasty’s Jia Ming wrote in “Dietary Knowledge”: “Luohua Sheng, also deceptively called Changsheng Guo, tastes bitter, spicy, and sweet, has a cool nature, resembles a bean pod in shape, and its seeds are like lotus flesh.” The Qing Dynasty’s “Hui Shu” also says: “Luohua Sheng is a curious thing where flowers fall to the ground and fruit forms in the soil. The fruit is somewhat similar to beans but slightly harder. When roasted, it tastes like pine nuts.” Wu Qirui’s 1821 “Illustrated Examination of Plant Names and Realities” describes: “Luohua Sheng is detailed in the Newly Revised Materia Medica and is planted everywhere in sandy soil.” Because they flower above ground and fruit below, they are called Luohua Sheng, with peanuts being the abbreviated term. The Japanese call peanuts “Tangren Dou” (Chinese beans), and Russians call them “Chinese nuts,” proving that peanuts in those regions were introduced from China.

　　Peanuts are highly nutritious and are known as “vegetable meat” or “green milk.” According to relevant sources, mature peanut kernels contain up to

　　47.37% oil, 35.99% protein, 1.61% fiber, and 8.45% carbohydrates and ash. The ash contains inorganic salts such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and iron. Domestically, peanut kernels are mainly used for oil extraction. Peanut oil is light in color and fragrant, making it one of the premium edible oils. Besides oil extraction, peanuts are also widely used in making candies, pastries, bread, peanut butter, and other foods. In recent years, through joint ventures with merchants from Fujian, Pengji Town has established

　　“

　　Dongping Minlu Food Co., Ltd.

　　”

　　, by further processing peanut skins, has produced packaged

　　“

　　Zhuangyuan

　　”

　　brand crispy peanuts. With a deliciously crunchy taste and exquisite packaging, they have entered mass production and are now supplied to the market.

　　Peanuts are a green food product, not only rich in nutrients but also possessing health benefits. Regular consumption can enhance memory, lower blood pressure, and delay aging. For those with mild stomach ailments, eating peanuts regularly may lead to natural recovery without medication.