Rhizoma Polygonati (Mountain Ginger)

Mountain Ginger

　　Tourists visiting Lianzhou often like to purchase the local specialty Rhizoma Polygonati. Most of Guangdong’s Rhizoma Polygonati is produced in Lianzhou City. It has the effects of invigorating qi and nourishing blood, dispelling wind and removing dampness. Regular consumption can promote longevity and beauty, making it an excellent health product for families.

　　Rhizoma Polygonati is commonly known as “Mountain Ginger,” and in ancient times was called “Yellow Ganoderma,” meaning it was regarded as a “miraculous medicine” just like lingzhi mushrooms. It is also referred to as “Famine Relief Herb,” a name that originates from the Tang Dynasty. The literary figure Liu Yuxi, when serving as Prefect of Lianzhou, loved eating Rhizoma Polygonati. He said, “Rhizoma Polygonati is sweet, delicious, and easy to eat; in famine years, it can replace grain for both the old and the young.” Since then, Rhizoma Polygonati has also been called “Famine Relief Herb.” It also has the elegant nickname “Immortal’s Food.” Legend has it that in ancient times, a girl ran away from home in anger after her parents forced her into marriage. Several years later, villagers going up the mountain to chop wood encountered her. When they tried to persuade her to return home, she politely refused, then swiftly crossed cliffs and ridges with a light step, as if she were a fairy ascending to the sky. Later, people discovered that the food stored in the cave where she lived was actually Rhizoma Polygonati.

　　Nowadays, Lianzhou produces 25 tons of Rhizoma Polygonati annually, which is processed through nine rounds of steaming and sun-drying to make the final product. In recent years, various Rhizoma Polygonati products have been successfully developed. Among them, Rhizoma Polygonati Glutinous Rice Wine once won the Guangdong Four New Products Excellent Award; in 1993, it was certified as a “Guangdong Provincial Famous Brand Product.” Today, Rhizoma Polygonati Glutinous Rice Wine has become a popular souvenir that tourists rush to buy for their family and friends.