Lotus Tribute Rice

Lotus Tribute Rice

　　Lotus Tribute Rice is a specialty of Yuan'an County, Yichang City, Hubei Province. Yuan'an is known for its rice production, especially the lotus rice grown in Caijiawan Village, Yangping Town, Yuan'an County. It is said to have been a tribute food served to Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, boasting a long history and nationwide fame.

　　The original growing area of Lotus Tribute Rice is Lotus Hill in Yuan'an County, located at an altitude of 800 meters. The region enjoys a pleasant climate, fresh air, and is free from pollution. Throughout the year, peak mountain springs provide natural irrigation, resulting in clear, sweet water. The soil is fertile. Due to limitations in climate and soil conditions, the growing area is small and yields are relatively low, making it a rare gem among rice varieties. According to oral histories passed down through generations, it was once presented to the emperor during the Kangxi era and thus earned the title of "tribute rice."

　　Because of its limited production, Lotus Tribute Rice was once highly sought after in the market, which led to unscrupulous vendors often counterfeiting or falsely labeling their products as “Lotus Tribute Rice,” even adulterating it with inferior grains and driving down prices. This seriously damaged the reputation of genuine Lotus Tribute Rice. To change this situation, in March 2006, Shao Changqing, a major grain grower in Yuan'an, after much thought and research, resolutely decided to unite local rice farmers and establish a unified, packaged sales model. He founded the county’s first rice production and sales cooperative — the Lotus Tribute Rice Production and Sales Cooperative — and introduced the product to the market under a unified brand and image. With the support of the Yuan'an County Government, Shao Changqing sought out Datang Shenfeng.

　　Midaoxian is the unified brand for the Lotus Tribute Rice variety produced in Yuan'an County, Hubei Province. It is a new brand established by Datang Shenfeng with the support of the Yuan'an County Government. After several years of effort, Midaoxian has become a well-known high-end rice brand in Hubei Province. It has won various awards, including the Gold Award for Agricultural Products at the China Wuhan Agricultural Expo, and has been listed among the Top Ten Tourist Commodities of the Three Gorges in Yichang.