Zhuxi Tribute Rice

Zhuxi Tribute Rice

Zhuxi Tribute Rice is a protected geographical indication product.

Zhuxi Tribute Rice is a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　Zhuxi Tribute Rice, a specialty of Zhuxi County in Hubei Province, was first designated as “tribute rice” during the Tang Dynasty. The rice is as white as jade, shuttle-shaped, with large, long grains that are glossy, crystal-clear, and plump. Its milky juice is fragrant, soft, and delicious, rich in essential trace elements such as calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium needed by the human body. In 2008, it won the Gold Award for agricultural products at the 5th China Wuhan Agricultural Expo.

　　The protected production area for Zhuxi Tribute Rice as a geographical indication product includes the current administrative regions of nine townships in Zhuxi County, Hubei Province: Zhongfeng Town, Jiangjiayan Town, Longba Township, Chengguan Town, Shuiping Town, Xianhe Town, Xinzhou Township, Bingying Township, and Huiwan Township.

　　The “Hometown of Tribute Rice”—Zhuxi County in Hubei Province—is known for its lush forests, clear waters, clean environment, excellent ecology, and fertile soil, often referred to as a “granary.” Thanks to its unique natural conditions, it produces court “tribute rice” that “surpasses all other grains.” The main production area of Zhuxi Tribute Rice is located in Zhongfeng Town in northwestern Hubei, where the growing area is surrounded by mountains and deep valleys. The unique temperature variations and spring-fed irrigation result in a longer growth cycle for the rice, which is rich in vitamins B1, B2, and B5. The rice has a fragrance as delicate as bamboo, is highly nutritious, and tastes delicious. During the cultivation of tribute rice, no chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides are used, ensuring there are no pesticide residues. It is entirely grown with organic fertilizer and protected from pests and diseases using biological methods, making it a natural green and organic food.

　　 In addition to tribute tea and tribute timber, Zhuxi County also has another tribute—“tribute rice.” This also comes with a beautiful legend: on the southwestern bank of Pengyugou in Zhongfeng Town lies Zhoujiabang, which has sixty-one “heavenly water fields” covering a total of one mu and four fen. The rice planted here grows particularly vigorously, ripening six to eight days earlier than rice in ordinary fields. The milled rice is as white as jade, and when cooked, the rice is fragrant, delicious, not sticky, and not mushy.

　　 During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Zhang served as the magistrate of Zhuxi. To curry favor with him, his subordinates presented this rice to the county yamen as a gift. At first, Wang Zhang, not finding the rice particularly special, paid it little mind. Later, when the chef cooked a meal with this rice, Wang Zhang realized it was extraordinary—a rare delicacy among rice. He found himself unable to eat any other rice for all three meals of the day. Over time, the news reached the imperial palace in the capital. Emperor Shenzong of Ming ordered Magistrate Wang Zhang to quickly send this rice to Jinling. After tasting it, the emperor was overjoyed and exclaimed, striking his bowl in admiration: “A treasure of the mortal realm, a treasure of the mortal realm!” He then issued an edict designating it as “tribute rice,” to be offered annually without fail.

　　 From then on, local people were required to grow this rice every year, yet they could not eat it themselves. Moreover, they had to send their young and able-bodied laborers to carry the rice all the way to the capital as tribute. Along the journey, they might encounter ferocious beasts, bandits, or even die from exhaustion or starvation. The people suffered greatly. This also implicated a notable historical figure from Zhuxi—Xu Chengchu. A native of the western part of Zhuxi (now Lanbangou Village in Jiangjiayan Town), Xu Chengchu served in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War as an imperial censor, assisting the emperor in governance, supervising the Six Ministries, submitting memorials, and participating in the court’s “court deliberations.” Though not holding a high rank, he wielded considerable power. As an upright official, he did not flatter the powerful and dared to speak candidly to the emperor. Upon hearing of the hardships faced by his fellow villagers, Xu Chengchu advised the then magistrate of Zhuxi to select only those who were ugly—those with lumps on their backs or swellings on their necks—to carry the rice to the capital. Secretly, Xu Chengchu asked his colleagues and friends to petition the emperor to summon these hardworking porters who had traveled great distances to deliver tribute. When the emperor saw the tribute bearers—each gaunt, ugly, and exhausted—he asked why they looked that way. The porters, following Xu Chengchu’s prior instructions, replied: “Your Majesty, we do not know why, but ever since the drought two years ago, after eating the grain grown in our fields, we have all developed lumps on our backs and swellings on our necks. We can only walk bent over and breathe with our necks hanging.” From then on, the emperor never dared to eat the rice they sent again. And so, the “tribute rice” from Pengyugou in Zhuxi faded into obscurity.

　　Zhuxi Tribute Rice is as white as jade, shuttle-shaped, with large, long grains that are glossy, crystal-clear, and plump. Its milky juice is fragrant, soft, and delicious, rich in essential trace elements such as calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium needed by the human body.

　　Protected Geographical Indication Product

　　On November 23, 2009, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China decided to implement national protected geographical indication status for “Zhuxi Tribute Rice.”

　　Protected Area

　　The protected production area for Zhuxi Tribute Rice as a geographical indication product includes the current administrative regions of nine townships in Zhuxi County, Hubei Province: Zhongfeng Town, Jiangjiayan Town, Longba Township, Chengguan Town, Shuiping Town, Xianhe Town, Xinzhou Township, Bingying Township, and Huiwan Township.