Warang Seven-Star Chili

Warang Seven-Star Chili

The Warang Seven-Star Chili is a product with geographical indication status.

　　The Seven-Star Chili is a local specialty, grown on high mountain slopes in the picturesque and sunlit Waergang area. The chilies produced here boast a strikingly bright red color, a spicy and crisp texture, and a delicate taste. Known for their "fiery heat without overwhelming bitterness" and "enduring spiciness without numbing the mouth," they have earned a distinctive reputation. In 2012, the Warang Seven-Star Chili successfully passed the geographical indication protection certification by the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　Legend has it that during the late Ming Dynasty, after Li Zicheng’s defeat, he went into hiding in Shimen. The outlaw hero Ludao Guo continued to resist government forces at Waergang. Preparing to pay homage to King Chuang (Li Zicheng) to discuss plans for saving the nation, he entrusted the defense of the stronghold to his seven wives. The seven sisters led the garrison in a desperate fight but were eventually overwhelmed and the stronghold fell. Fearing capture and humiliation, the sisters committed suicide by sword, facing toward Shimen. The following year, locals planted chilies on the blood-soaked land where the seven sisters had died. The plants bore small, upright chilies that were bright red as blood, with seven chilies per cluster, standing gracefully. These were named “Seven Sisters.” The Seven-Star Chili has a long history of cultivation in the region. In the early Qing Dynasty, Chen Haozi wrote in *Flower Mirror*: “Foreign peppers grow in clusters with white flowers; the fruit resembles a writing brush tip, with a spicy flavor and red color, quite ornamental…” During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, it was esteemed as an imperial tribute and gained fame throughout the land. In 2004, the product won the highest award for Seven-Star Chili products in Hunan Province—the Gold Award at the 4th China (Hunan) International Agricultural Expo. The Niuchehe Township of Taoyuan County was honored as the “Hometown of China’s Seven-Star Chili.”

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical indication protection area for the Warang Seven-Star Chili includes 21 villages in Niuchehe Township, Taoyuan County: Shiziping, Maogongba, Fansiping, Tangjiaxi, Maluping, Tangjiaping, Zhenlongqiao, Guilongshan, Longfengshan, Feiqihe, Majiahe, Majiayu, Huangsanping, Beidouxi, -ping, Dongxixihe, Matanhe, Shuitianping, Dingjiaping, Yinjiaqiao, and Maoping. The area is located in the northwest corner of Taoyuan County, bordering Zhongjiapu Township to the east, Wujiaoping Township of Zhangjiajie City to the west, Canmang Township of Yuanling County to the south, and Xikou and Gaoqiao Towns of Cili County to the north. Its geographical coordinates are: 110°50'36"–111°36'32" east longitude and 28°24'30"–29°24'13" north latitude. The protected area spans 1,769 hectares, with an annual yield of 16,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: The chilies grow in clusters of seven, resembling seven fairies—each one small, delicate, and radiant. The Seven-Star Chili grows upright, with a crisp texture, bright red color, thin skin, intense spiciness, and sweet undertones. It is spicy on the tongue but not harsh to the stomach, and the spicier it is, the more refreshing it tastes. It holds high edible and medicinal value. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Capsaicin ≥450mg/kg, Vitamin E ≥90mg/kg, crude protein ≥3.5%, crude fiber ≤13.5%. 3. Complies with the safety requirements of the *Pollution-Free Vegetable Product Standard for Solanaceous Fruits* (NY5005-2001).