Yangcheng Mulberries

Yangcheng Mulberries

Yangcheng Mulberries are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Yangcheng County has a long history of mulberry cultivation and sericulture, dating back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties, flourishing in the Tang and Song dynasties, with over 3,000 years of sericultural production history. As early as more than two thousand years ago, mulberries were already a tonic exclusively used by Chinese emperors.

　　After more than a year of preliminary review, expert evaluation, and public announcement, in 2013, "Yangcheng Mulberries" received the agricultural product geographical indication certification from the Ministry of Agriculture, becoming another calling card for Yangcheng’s agricultural products following "Yangcheng Cornus officinalis" and "Xichengshan Millet."

　　After "Yangcheng Mulberries" obtained the national geographical indication certification from the Ministry of Agriculture, it will greatly enhance their visibility. Mulberry production will become one of the sources of income growth for farmers.

　　Geographical Scope

　　According to the provisions of the "Administrative Measures for the Registration of Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products" and based on the specific cultural history and natural ecological environment conditions of Yangcheng Mulberries, after research by the Yangcheng County Agriculture Bureau and extensive solicitation of opinions from relevant parties, it is proposed to designate the geographical protection scope of Yangcheng Mulberries as: 18 townships within Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province. Yangcheng County is located in the southeastern part of Shanxi Province, under the jurisdiction of Jincheng City. It lies on the eastern branch of the Taiyue Mountain Range, northeast of the Zhongtiao Mountain, west of the Taihang Mountains, and on the western bank of the middle reaches of the Qinhe River. The protected area's geographical coordinates are located on the eastern branch of the Taiyue Mountain Range, northeast of the Zhongtiao Mountain, west of the Taihang Mountains, and on the western bank of the middle reaches of the Qinhe River. The geographical coordinates are between 112° and 112°37' east longitude, and 35°12' to 35°40' north latitude. The county is surrounded by mountains, approximately 54 kilometers long from north to south and about 53 kilometers wide from east to west, slightly convex in shape. It borders the suburbs of Jincheng City to the east, neighbors Qinshui County to the north, connects with Yuanqu County to the southwest, and links with Jiyuan City of Henan Province to the south. The total area is 1,968 square kilometers. The designated geographical protection area covers 1,300 square kilometers, with a total production area of 5,840 hectares and an annual output of 10,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. Appearance Characteristics: The fruit of Yangcheng Mulberries is a collective fruit, formed by the aggregation of many small drupelets, shaped oblong, 1–2 cm in length and 0.5–0.8 cm in diameter. The color ranges from yellow-brown and brown-red to dark purple (with the rarer white variant appearing milky white when mature), with short fruit stalks. The small drupelets are oval, slightly flattened, about 2 mm long and 1 mm wide, covered by four fleshy floral bracts. They have a faint aroma and a mildly sour yet sweet taste. 2. Nutritional Quality Characteristics: The fruit of Yangcheng Mulberries is rich in active proteins, vitamins, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other mineral components. The protein content exceeds 2.0 g/100 g, total dietary fiber exceeds 2.0%, calcium content is ≥80 mg/100 g, phosphorus content is ≥40 mg/100 g, potassium content is ≥200 mg/100 g, vitamin A content exceeds 0.5 μg/100 g, and vitamin E content exceeds 2,500 μg/100 g. Regular consumption is very beneficial to health. 3. Ecological Characteristics: Yangcheng mulberry trees prefer a warm and moist climate and have relatively strict requirements for natural environmental conditions. They require humus-rich, loose, slightly acidic sandy loam or yellow-brown soil; a cool, moist climate with abundant rainfall and suitable sunlight. The altitude is between 600–900 meters, on shady or semi-shady slopes; the annual average temperature is 8–16°C. The accumulated temperature above 10°C is 4,000–5,000°C, and the frost-free period lasts 190–280 days per year. They grow best in fertile, moist soil with a pH generally between 5–6.5. Soils that are too acidic or too alkaline are not conducive to their growth and development. The production base of Yangcheng Mulberries is located in Yangcheng County in the southeastern part of Shanxi Province, where the area is surrounded by mountains, crisscrossed with ravines, and features excellent natural ecology in forested regions, with strict environmental protection, clean air, moist conditions, fertile land, ample sunlight, and abundant broadleaf forest resources—making it a rare prime location for mulberry cultivation.