Qintang Red Rice, Qintang Black Rice

Qintang Red Rice, Qintang Black Rice

　　Qintang Red Rice and Black Rice were historically known as "He Rice" (禾米), evolved from wild rice, and are a type of specialty rice. They have long been regarded as premium rice and are commonly referred to by locals as "medicinal grain." According to the *Guixian County Annals* (Guangxu Edition), they were produced in "Guonanli and Guobei Shuinanli" (now Guigang City), with detailed records of their cultivation and characteristics. Guigang City is located on the Xunyu Plain, where rice has been cultivated for a long time, making it one of Guangxi’s main rice-producing regions.

　　Qintang Red Rice and Qintang Black Rice are grown using locally indigenous primitive rice varieties. They are cultivated, nurtured, and processed using traditional Zhuang farming methods. Their growth cycle is about two months longer than that of ordinary rice. The red rice has a purplish-red outer layer with a red core, while the black rice has a purplish-black outer layer with a black core. The rice is of high quality, rich in selenium, and offers considerable nutritional and medicinal value. It is believed to help replenish blood, strengthen the spleen, nourish the stomach, and treat neurasthenia, among other benefits. It can be used for porridge, congee, or made into flavored snacks, with a slightly tangy and mild taste.

　　In 2016, the total planting area of Qintang Red Rice exceeded 6,000 mu, yielding over 550 tons of high-quality red rice annually. The counties with the largest planting areas—Shanbei, Donglong, Menggong, Sanli, and Wuli—accounted for more than 4,500 mu. Other townships also grew Qintang Black Rice across more than 4,200 mu, producing over 1,300 tons of high-quality black rice annually. The top-producing areas included Shanbei Township, Menggong, Sanli, Wuli, and Shika, covering over 3,000 mu, with additional cultivation in other townships. In 2016, the "Zhuangyuan" brand of red and black rice, registered under the name of Guigang Heshun Food Co., Ltd. in the Qintang District, obtained "selenium-rich" certification. In September of the same year, the "Zhuangyuan" brand "Black Rice" was awarded the title of China's Characteristic Selenium Product at the 3rd (Enshi) Selenium Expo.