Lianbo Chinese Chives

Lianbo Chinese Chives

Lianbo Chinese chives are a protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Lianbo Chinese chives are a specialty of Lianbo Village, Yangcun Township, Hejin City, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province. With a long history of cultivation, these chives are known for their broad and thick leaves, long and thick white stalks, exceptional crispness (they snap easily without stringiness), a spicy-sweet flavor, and a fragrant, delicious taste. Lianbo Chinese chives are a protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Lianbo Village is located in Yangcun Township, Hejin City, Shanxi Province, and has approximately 60,000 acres of Yellow River alluvial land and a population of over 6,300. Over 95% of the villagers grow Chinese chives. The village is situated in the triangular area where the Yellow River meets the Fen River. The vast Yellow River sandy beaches, abundant water resources, and excellent sunlight conditions provide unique advantages for chive cultivation. Currently, the village’s chive planting area has exceeded 15,000 acres, with products sold to major cities such as Taiyuan, Xi'an, Zhengzhou, and Beijing. This generates nearly 100 million yuan in additional income for local residents each year.

　　Lianbo Chinese chives are characterized by three features: first, they have no stringiness—the leaves snap easily when pinched, making them tender and crisp; second, they have wide, thick leaves, long and thick white stalks, and a strong fragrance; third, their leaves are glossy green, well-hydrated, and very appealing in appearance. Additionally, chives from Lianbo can be harvested one more time than those from other areas. The autumn “tai-xia chives” (chives harvested from under the flower stalk) are especially flavorful—more aromatic than spring chives, with a spicy-sweet taste that offers a unique dining experience.

　　The Lianbo Chinese chive industry is gradually moving toward large-scale cultivation. Improvements have been significant in terms of planting techniques, field management, and sales channels compared to previous years. The quality of the chives continues to rise, and with the dedicated service of over 20 chive brokers, trust among merchants and consumers has also grown. During peak sales periods, daily chive shipments can reach 300,000 kilograms, supplying major vegetable markets across the province and reaching as far as Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, and Henan.

　　Hejin City is making full use of its abundant alluvial land resources to focus on developing “Lianbo Chinese chives,” while also encouraging surrounding villages to grow them. This has gradually established the “Lianbo Chinese chives” brand, ensuring pollution-free cultivation. The planting area is expected to expand to 30,000 acres, further strengthening this key industry.

　　In 2013, the “Lianbo Chinese chives” application submitted by the Xin’geng High-Tech Science and Technology Research Institute of Hejin City passed expert evaluation and became a protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Xin’geng High-Tech Science and Technology Research Institute of Hejin City

　　Location: 2013

　　Geographical Scope

　　According to the “Administrative Measures for the Registration of Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products” and based on the unique natural ecological environment of Lianbo Chinese chives, the protected geographical indication area has been delineated after extensive consultation. It covers five administrative villages in Yangcun Township, Hejin City, southern Shanxi Province: Lianbo, Yong’an, Taiyang, Guojiazhuang, and Junling. The total production area is 2,000 hectares, with an annual output of 120,000 tons. The protected area lies between 110°32′16″–110°32′20″ east longitude and 35°8′18″–35°8′22″ north latitude, stretching 7 km from north to south and 9 km from east to west.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　Product Quality Features — Appearance: Grown in the sandy soil of the Yellow River alluvial plain and cultivated using unique techniques, Lianbo Chinese chives differ from those produced elsewhere. They offer a spicy-sweet taste, a fragrant and delicious flavor, exceptional crispness (snapping easily without stringiness), forming the quality advantage of “Lianbo Chinese chives.” The chives feature robust roots, lush leaves, broad and thick leaf skins without stringiness, and long, thick white stalks. Internal Quality: Tests show that every 100 grams of Lianbo Chinese chives contain total dietary fiber ≥3.2–4.9 g, calcium 9.0–4.0 mg, phosphorus 8.0–4.0 mg, and iron 2.4–3.0 mg. Chives are known to nourish the liver and kidneys, earning them the nickname “yang-invigorating herb.” Furthermore, they are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, dietary fiber, and vitamin C—especially notable for having four times the vitamin C content of tomatoes. Regular consumption of chives is beneficial to health. Product Quality and Safety Standards: - Pesticide Use: Strictly adheres to GB485 (Safe Use Standards for Pesticides) - Rational Pesticide Application: Complies with all sections of GB/T8 (Guidelines for the Rational Use of Pesticides) - Crop Seeds: Follows GB8079 (Crop Seeds) - Pollution-Free Food Chives: Adheres to the standards outlined in Office of Agriculture Document [2012] No. 8 - Growing Environment: Meets NY500 (Environmental Conditions for Pollution-Free Vegetable Production) - Production Records: Maintain detailed records using production logs printed uniformly by the Agricultural Commission. The records for Lianbo Chinese chives, as a protected geographical indication product, document details such as input procurement sources, product names, usage amounts, methods, precautions, and more. - Technical Compliance: All technical measures throughout production follow non-polluting standardized procedures, with records kept accordingly. - Product Inspections: Each batch undergoes strict inspections and random sampling. Records are maintained according to farmer codes, enforcing strict exit and market access systems.