Poli Shijihua (Poli Razor Clam)

Poli Shijihua (Poli Razor Clam)

Poli Shijihua is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Poli Shijihua is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Shijihua (Razor Clam) is a relatively large species of shellfish found in northern seas. Its muscular foot is thick, milky-white in color, tapering to a point at the top and broadening at the base, smooth and rounded, resembling a human tongue. The meat is delicate and delicious, ranking alongside sea cucumber and abalone as one of the top eight delicacies of the sea.

　　The name "Shijihua" originates from an ancient legend. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Xi Shi and Fan Li, the prime minister of the Yue Kingdom, were originally lovers. However, for the sake of Yue’s national restoration, she was presented by King Goujian as a gift to the King of Wu, Fuchai. Fuchai indulged in wine and women, neglecting state affairs, while Goujian endured hardship and plotted his comeback. More than ten years later, the Yue army conquered Wu. With Fan Li’s assistance, Goujian defeated Fuchai in a single decisive battle. On his deathbed, Fuchai, still obsessed with wine and women, asked Xi Shi to sing for him on the escaping boat. Xi Shi believed her mission was complete and had no more desire to live in this world. She bit off her tongue, jumped into the river, and killed herself. Her tongue was caught by a divine clam in the river. Moved by Xi Shi’s loyalty and love, the clam kept her tongue in its mouth and wandered far and wide searching for Fan Li, intending to return it to him. Upon hearing that the Yue Kingdom had moved its capital to Langya, the divine clam traveled tirelessly from the southern coastal areas all the way to Langya. Later, it learned that Fan Li had retired from state affairs after Yue destroyed Wu, abandoning military life for business and settling in the Dingtao area. Unable to cross overland, the clam waited for Fan Li near the shores of Langya, holding Xi Shi’s tongue in its mouth. Generation after generation, this eventually gave rise to a beautiful and precious marine shellfish — the Shijihua.

　　The Shijihua is a food high in protein, low in fat, and low in cholesterol, offering great benefits to human health. Its meat contains all eight essential amino acids required by the human body. Additionally, it has medicinal uses. Records of the Shijihua being used in medicine can be found scattered throughout historical texts. For example, the “Compendium of Materia Medica (Ben Cao Cong Xin)” states: “It nourishes essence, moistens the lungs and internal organs, and quenches thirst.” The “Sui Xi Ju Dietetic Spectrum” notes: “It stimulates appetite, nourishes bodily fluids, nourishes the heart, clears heat, calms (extinguishes) wind, cools the liver, and improves vision.” Traditional Chinese medicine regards the Shijihua as cold in nature and salty in taste, possessing the effects of nourishing yin, moistening dryness, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, resolving phlegm, and softening hardness. It is used to treat conditions such as yang-deficiency diabetes, edema, uterine bleeding, leukorrhea, insomnia, soreness of the waist, scanty urination, phlegm-rheum, hemorrhoids, swollen lymph nodes, and goiter. Due to its cold nature, it is not suitable for those with yang-deficiency, weak constitution, cold spleen and stomach, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Overconsumption is not advised, as it may have blood-breaking effects. Modern research has found that the Shijihua can help lower urinary sugar levels. Clinical reports indicate that diabetic patients who eat eight boiled Shijihuas on an empty stomach every morning, drinking the broth as well, show significant improvement after 15 days.

　　Agricultural Product Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The shell is roughly triangular, with a smooth surface, a shiny yellowish-brown outer skin, and a purplish-red shell exterior. The shell is large, thin, and brittle. The mantle scar is distinct, and the muscular foot is well-developed and tongue-shaped. The shell surface is smooth with fine patterns, and the color varies with the size of the individual. Shells under 7 cm are purple or purplish-brown; shells between 7–9 cm are mostly purple with pale yellow ventral edges; shells over 10 cm have purple tops with the rest being white or light brown. The inner surface of the shell is pale purple or white.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: The meat of the Shijihua is plump, crisp and tender, with a light and uniquely delicious flavor. It is highly nutritious, rich in various amino acids needed by the human body (≥9%), protein (≥11%), fat...<0.4％）及钙（≥64/100g）等微量元素。

　　Geographic Range

　　Although the Shijihua is widely distributed across China, its quality varies. The Shijihua found in Poli Town, West Coast New Area, Qingdao City, is considered the best. Its color can be distinguished with the naked eye, and its meat is especially tender and white with an exceptionally fresh taste. As a result, most of the product is purchased by merchants from Fujian and sold in the Hong Kong market, where its price is several times higher than Shijihuas from other regions. The Shijihua helps prevent arteriosclerosis, lowers blood lipids, and improves arrhythmia. It also moistens the lungs and nourishes essence and yin, qualities unmatched by other shellfish. The geographical coordinates are: longitude 119°40′00.43″ to 120°07′09.90″, latitude 35°34′12.00″ to 35°54′50.68″. The protected area spans 4,200 hectares, with an annual production of 200 tons of Shijihua.