Majiazhai Village Toon Sprouts

Majiazhai Village Toon Sprouts

Majiazhai Village Toon Sprouts is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Majiazhai Village Toon Sprouts is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The toon sprouts of Majiazhai Village in Fangcheng Town, Xintai City, have a long history. Legend has it that in the early Ming Dynasty, during an early spring, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang passed through this area. From afar, he saw what looked like a swath of red maples and caught the whiff of a rich, fragrant aroma carried by the wind. As he approached, he discovered it was a grove of toon trees. He casually plucked a leaf, put it in his mouth, and couldn’t stop praising: “The toon here is the best.” Since then, Majiazhai toon has become a tribute to the imperial palace.

　　Majiazhai Village is located in the mountainous southern region of Xintai City, where the soil layer is relatively thin and consists of sandy brown soil. The temperature rises quickly in early spring, allowing the toon sprouts to hit the market about 7–8 days earlier than in other areas. The toon sprouts produced here boast a strong fragrance, with tender shoots that are crisp, juicy, and free of coarse fibers. They can be eaten raw (in salads), stir-fried, pickled into various types of preserved vegetables, or used to extract toon oil, make condiments, or produce dried leaf powder. Toon is rich in nutrients and trace elements, making it a beloved delicacy in early spring.

　　In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there were 450 acres of toon trees, with approximately 750,000 plants. Later, due to the influence of “Leftist” ideologies, many old trees were severely damaged, leaving only about 20,000 surviving plants by 1978. In recent years, to further develop this superior local variety, Fangcheng Town in Xintai City has vigorously implemented technical measures such as soil improvement and fertilization, close planting, shoot pinching, multi-crown dwarfing, and rational bud harvesting. These efforts allow for three harvests per year and have increased the added value of toon through processing. By the year 2000, the toon cultivation area in Fangcheng Town had reached over 3,000 acres, yielding 600,000 kilograms of toon sprouts annually. The product is sold to major cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, and Guangzhou, while processed goods are exported to countries and regions including Japan and Hong Kong.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Within the territory of Fangcheng Town, Xintai City, Shandong Province, involving 14 villages: Majiazhai, Xiaobeihe, Dabeihe, Fangchengyi Village, Fangchengyixin Village, Fangcheng’er Village, Fangchengsan Village, Dongbu Village, Dongjie Village, Xijiayu, Kanzhuangjia, Xishijing, Dongshijing, and Shangzhuang Village. The geographical coordinates are between 35°38′–35°43′ north latitude and 117°33′–117°38′ east longitude, with a protected area of 1,200 hectares.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Crisp and delicious, purple-red in color, naturally early budding, pleasant in taste, and rich in aroma. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Majiazhai toon is highly nutritious, with internal quality indicators including: protein content ≥5.40%, iron content ≥4.60mg/100g, phosphorus content ≥100mg/100g, calcium content ≥125mg/100g, zinc content ≥9.0mg/100g, offering high nutritional value and health benefits. 3. Safety Requirements: Clearly specifies the national mandatory technical standards, specific contents, and relevant legal regulations that the registered product must follow for market access. Compliance is in accordance with the safety requirements of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China.