Laifeng Phoenix Head Ginger

Laifeng Phoenix Head Ginger

Laifeng Phoenix Head Ginger is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Phoenix Head Ginger, named for its resemblance to a phoenix’s head, is primarily produced in Laifeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province. It boasts excellent quality and a unique flavor—its fresh young ginger is tender, fiberless, juicy, rich in selenium, moderately spicy, and delicious. It is exported as far as Southeast Asia.

　　According to the Laifeng County Annals, the cultivation of Phoenix Head Ginger in Laifeng has a history of over 300 years, and it is named for its resemblance to a phoenix’s head. Its stem resembles a finger, with a bright red tip tinged with purple and a snow-white rhizome. Phoenix Head Ginger is rich in various vitamins, amino acids, proteins, fats, carotene, sugars, gingerol, phenols, alcohols, as well as essential trace elements such as iron, zinc, calcium, and selenium. It helps strengthen the spleen and stimulate appetite, dispel cold and resist dampness, accelerate blood circulation, delay aging, and prevent cancer. It can also be used to extract gingerol, ginger oil, fragrances, and other pharmaceutical and chemical products.

　　Laifeng County features a mid-subtropical continental monsoon humid mountain climate that is warm, moist, and distinct in the four seasons, with abundant rainfall. Coupled with fertile soil, it is an ideal place where “a bowl of mud yields a bowl of rice,” making it highly suitable for ginger cultivation. Around the Mid-Autumn Festival each year, large quantities of ginger are harvested here. Not only is it exported in large amounts, but local ginger farmers are also invited to other regions as “ginger masters” to share planting techniques and processing methods in places like Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing.

　　There are two common ways to prepare Phoenix Head Ginger: one is to wash, peel, and pickle it with red chili peppers, garlic, and other ingredients to make a savory side dish; the other is to slice the ginger, mix it with appropriate amounts of fermented chili, salt, and other seasonings, and let it ferment in a jar for a few days before eating. As a result, dishes made with Phoenix Head Ginger are often the first to sell out on dining tables across Enshi. Moreover, when you have an upset stomach, eating a few pickled slices straight from the jar can quickly make you feel better. If there’s no appetizer or side dish for drinks or meals, “pickled ginger” can definitely take center stage.

　　Laifeng is located at the junction of the Three Gorges Golden Tourism Route and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. With the rapid development of tourism centered around religious and ecological culture, the people of Laifeng seized this opportunity to expand and invigorate the Phoenix Head Ginger industry. They sell young ginger fresh, process mature ginger into instant ginger soup granules, and use by-products to make condiments like ginger sauce, developing a series of Phoenix Head Ginger products.

　　If you can’t get enough of Phoenix Head Ginger while visiting Laifeng, you can also take a few jars of pickled ginger home. No matter where you are, it’s guaranteed to be a—delicacy.

　　The geographical indication product protection area for Laifeng Phoenix Head Ginger is based on the scope proposed in the Letter on Defining the Geographical Indication Product Scope of “Laifeng Phoenix Head Ginger” (Lai Zheng Han [2006] No. 38) issued by the People’s Government of Laifeng County, Hubei Province. This includes the current administrative regions of eight townships in Laifeng County: Xiangfeng Town, Lushui Township, Manship Township, Baifusi Town, Dahe Town, Jiusi Township, Sanhu Township, and Geli Che Township.