Xiaogang Small Scallions

Xiaogang Small Scallions

Xiaogang Small Scallions are a protected geographical indication product.

　　The geographical indication protection area for Xiaogang Small Scallions covers the current administrative region of Xiaogang Town, Xiaonan District, Xiaogan City, Hubei Province.

　　The geographical indication protection area for Zhuhu Glutinous Rice covers the current administrative regions of nine townships and farms in Xiaogan City, Xiaonan District, Hubei Province: Zhuhu Farm, Dongshantou Farm, Pengxing Township, Xiaogang Town, Xinpu Town, Zhuzhan Town, Sancha Town, Wolong Township, and Maochen Town.

　　　According to reports, all parts of Xiaogang Small Scallions—including the leaves, white stems, bulbs, and rootlets—are edible, with an edibility rate of over 95%. Compared to common scallions, Xiaogang Small Scallions have a richer aroma. Aside from being used as seasonings or vegetables, they can also serve as ingredients in various condiments such as scallion oil and scallion flakes. They are an important source of income for rural communities in the region. Xiaogang Town is located at the northern edge of the Jianghan Plain, making it the northernmost area in China where small scallions are cultivated. The longer growth cycle due to the relatively northern latitude, combined with colder northern weather, gives Xiaogang Small Scallions a mildly spicy flavor, strong aroma, and excellent taste.

　　Medicinal Value

　　　　Due to their high nutritional content, the medicinal benefits of small scallions have long been recognized. Traditional Chinese herbal texts such as Li Shizhen’s *Compendium of Materia Medica*, *Materia Medica Justice*, and *Chongqing Herbal Medicine* all document the medicinal properties of small scallions. Pharmacological studies have also shown that the white stems of small scallions help induce perspiration and warmth, and can aid digestion, promote urination, and relieve phlegm. Scientists have found that regular consumption of small scallions may help regulate blood pressure, dilate blood vessels, and offer certain preventive effects against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases as well as prostate cancer.

　　Cultivation History

　　　　The history of cultivating small scallions in Xiaogang dates back to the Ming Dynasty. According to the *Xiaogan Local Chronicles*, in 1368 (the first year of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty), Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang implemented a series of agricultural development measures to ensure long-term stability, one of which was relocating people to the north of the Yangtze River to reclaim wasteland. Most residents in the Xiaogan area of the Jianghan Plain were migrants from Macheng, Jiangxi. It is said that small scallions were introduced to Xiaogan during this mass migration from the south, and have since taken root there. Additionally, the *Xiaogan County Annals* record that Sanchagang Market Town (now Xiaogang Town) has a history of over 300 years. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, it had grown into a market town with a population of more than 800 residents, including 156 commercial and industrial households—19 of which were engaged in small scallion trading, employing nearly 80 people—making it a well-known hub for small scallion distribution at the time. In 1953, the Wuhan Cooperative Union signed a purchasing agreement with Xiaogang District for small scallions. Since then, Xiaogang has become a production base supplying small scallions to residents of Wuhan.

　　“Xiaogang Small Scallions” are a specialty vegetable from Xiaogang Town, Xiaonan District, Xiaogan City, Hubei Province. These scallions feature tender leaves, long white stems, and are most distinguished by their rich and intense aroma. The unique soil composition, formed by the combination of alluvial sandy soil from the Huanshui River and the local yellow loam, contributes to these distinctive qualities. Beyond their culinary uses, the product also offers notable medicinal benefits.