Zhanglin Sesame Oil

Zhanglin Sesame Oil

　　Zhanglin Sesame Oil is a specialty of Zhanglin Town, Zhenping County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. The oil has a clear, golden-yellow to slightly red hue, is transparent, has a mellow and refreshing taste, a long-lasting aroma, and strong penetration, retaining its flavor over time.

　　It is made from the uniquely shaped "crooked-mouth" sesame seeds produced in Zhanglin Town, Zhenping County, hence the name Zhanglin Sesame Oil, distinguishing it from other sesame oils produced elsewhere.

　　"Zhanglin" has a production history of over 400 years. Historical records indicate that "Zhanglin" flourished during the Ming Dynasty and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty. At its height, the three-li-long north-south main street of Zhanglin had 48 wells and 72 oil mills. During oil-pressing season, the fragrance would waft for miles, delighting the senses.

　　"Zhanglin" was known overseas as "Brick Brand Oil." Legend has it that a small oil merchant bought oil in Zhanglin and hired porters to carry it to Jitan, Dengzhou, for sale to foreign traders. Along the way, one porter tripped and broke the oil gourds (bamboo-framed, paper-lined containers), spilling the oil. Fearing losses from the shortfall, the merchant added a green brick to each gourd to make up the weight. When the foreign buyers received the shipment, they mistook the bricks for a brand or trademark. Thereafter, they specifically requested “Brick Brand Oil,” and the name became a trademark for "Zhanglin," spawning a well-known anecdote.

　　Today, while preserving its traditional flavor characteristics, "Zhanglin" continues to upgrade its equipment and production techniques. The resulting oil has an orangey-yellow to slightly red hue, is transparent, and boasts a rich fruity freshness. It is mild in nature, sweet and mellow on the palate, and whether used for cooking, frying, or preparing cold dishes, it effectively removes fishy odors while enhancing aroma. When mixed into dishes, it penetrates deeply without being greasy. Beyond culinary uses, "Zhanglin" is also used in traditional Chinese medicine formulations, offering benefits such as nourishing yin, clearing heat, detoxifying, strengthening essence, soothing the spleen and stomach, cooling blood, moisturizing dryness, reducing swelling, relieving pain, and promoting tissue regeneration. It is widely consumed. According to testing and certification by the Xi’an Institute of Fats and Oils Science, "Zhanglin" contains 1.67% acid value, 0.14% moisture and volatile matter, 0.14% impurities, a refractive index of 1.474, and meets all national standards for sesame oil. Its hygiene standards also comply with national regulations. The color, aroma, taste, and consistency all retain the traditional qualities of "Zhanglin."

　　In recent years, with the deepening of reform and opening-up, "Zhanglin" has seen further development. The local government has listed it as a key science and technology development project, planning and expanding production to meet domestic and international market demands. Currently, the county produces 500,000 kilograms of "Zhanglin" annually, which is sold both domestically and abroad, earning widespread acclaim from merchants at home and overseas.