Jintian Chinese Yam

Jintian Chinese Yam

Jintian Chinese Yam is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Jintian Chinese Yam is a product certified under the Agricultural Geographical Indication scheme.

　　Chinese yam, also known as Dioscorea opposita, has a sweet taste and neutral nature. It enters the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians, and is commonly used in both medicinal and dietary therapies. The modern physician Zhang Xichun believed that: “Jintian Chinese yam nourishes both the spleen and kidneys. It clears upward and consolidates downward, promotes urination while regulating bowel movements.” When selecting how to use it, there are differences between raw and stir-fried applications. Raw Chinese yam can tonify the spleen and stomach, nourish the kidneys, and regulate essence. It also nourishes the lungs and promotes body fluids, and is often used for symptoms such as diabetes-related heat, spleen deficiency with poor appetite, chronic diarrhea, kidney deficiency with seminal emission, excessive vaginal discharge in women, and lung deficiency with wheezing and coughing. Stir-fried Chinese yam can strengthen the spleen and improve digestion, and is commonly used for spleen and stomach weakness, poor appetite with indigestion, and excessive vaginal discharge. In summary: for nourishing yin and promoting fluids, use it raw; for strengthening the spleen and stopping diarrhea, use it stir-fried.

　　Before liberation, Chinese yam in Guiping was only grown sporadically. Li Zuyuan, deputy director of the Guiping City Agriculture Bureau, said that during the 1980s and 1990s, the cultivation of Guiping Chinese yam developed rapidly, mainly concentrated in Jintian Town. The annual planting area across the city was around 30,000 mu, with an annual production of 16,000 tons. It was sold well in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asian regions. Currently, Guiping has become the main production area of Chinese yam in Guangxi.

　　Why is Guiping Chinese yam so famous? Li Zuyuan said that its most prominent characteristics are its white color, fine texture, high starch content, good mouthfeel, and a naturally sweet flavor. According to research by relevant experts, Guiping Chinese yam meets the pharmacological requirements in six indicators including moisture content, protein, starch, and amino acids. It contains 16 out of the 18 essential amino acids required by the human body, along with components such as allantoin, diosbulbin, and saponins, giving it high nutritional value. It can be made into various dishes and tonic foods. Currently, the local price of Guiping Chinese yam is about 5–5.6 yuan per kilogram for fresh yam, and over 10 yuan per kilogram for dried yam.

　　The traditional method is still used locally to process dried Chinese yam. During the yam harvest season, walking through Jintian town, you can see many households placing several “kangs” (drying beds) in front of their homes, either spread with large white strips of yam or stacked with dried yams resembling firewood piles.

　　The so-called “kang” here is actually a “mattress” constructed from wooden boards or bamboo slices. The yam is laid on top of the “mattress,” while sulfur is burned underneath to smoke and dry it.

　　According to traditional methods, sulfur helps the yam dry thoroughly. “But this traditional practice needs improvement, as excessive sulfur is harmful to the human body,” said Li Zuyuan. Currently, Guiping City has introduced sulfur-free processing technology for Chinese yam.

　　The production area covered by the Jintian Chinese Yam agricultural geographical indication product includes all administrative towns within the jurisdiction of Guiping City, namely: Xishan Town, Mengxu Town, Shilong Town, Houlu Township, Baisha Town, Nanmu Town, Jintian Town, Dongxin Township, Zijing Town, Jiangkou Town, Mule Town, Mugui Town, Shizui Town, Mapi Township, Youma Town, Shepo Town, Xunwang Township, Luoxiu Town, Zhongsha Town, Dayang Town, Luobo Township, Mugen Town, Mazuo Town, Shebu Town, Xiawan Town, Dawan Town, totaling 26 towns, 414 administrative villages, 7,763 villager groups, and 1 state-owned forest farm. The geographical coordinates are between 109°41′55″ to 110°22′48″ east longitude and 22°52′02″ to 23°48′04″ north latitude. The elevation ranges from 33.3 to 1,313.6 meters. It borders Pingnan County to the east, connects with Rong County, Beiliu City, Yuzhou District, and Xingye County of Yulin City to the south, links to Gangbei District of Guigang City to the west, and adjoins Wuxuan County and Jinxiu County of Laibin City to the north. The total boundary length is 375 kilometers, with a width of 69 kilometers from east to west and a length of 104 kilometers from north to south.