Lingshan Grass Jelly Herb

Lingshan Grass Jelly Herb

　　Lingshan Grass Jelly Herb, also known as Mesona or Xiancao, thrives in Lingshan County, which boasts the most suitable growing conditions. With a cultivation area of 10,000 mu and an annual output of 8,000 tons, the quality is first-class. The herb features lush leaves and slender stems, and when dried, the whole plant exhibits a glossy dark luster. It is rich in polysaccharide gel, flavonoids, aromatic essences, mineral elements, and other nutrients, making it an excellent raw material for making grass jelly. According to *The Great Dictionary of Chinese Medicine*, the Grass Jelly Herb “has delicate stems and leaves with a fragrance akin to agarwood and sandalwood; its juice extracted in summer solidifies into ice-like jelly,” and it offers benefits such as “nourishing the skin and relieving hunger.”

　　Lingshan County is located at the southern edge of Lingnan, characterized by a hot and humid climate. To combat summer heat, reduce internal heat, and eliminate toxins, the ancestors would cut wild Grass Jelly Herbs from the hillsides, process them crudely, and consume them. Over time, accumulated ancient and modern wisdom gave rise to a dietary remedy that is both delicious and preventive against illness. A local custom is to eat sugar-mixed grass jelly on the first day of the dog days of summer, believed to have a miraculous effect in preventing heat rash during the intense midsummer heat. During hot, laborious work breaks, people often choose to eat grass jelly cold dishes to cool down and quench thirst. This tradition has been passed down among the people of Qinzhou and Lianzhou for hundreds of years. Lingshan Grass Jelly is a distinctive ethnic-flavored food from Guangxi, meticulously crafted using dried Lingshan Grass Jelly Herb and edible starch through traditional methods. The final product is a jet-black, gelatinous substance with a smooth and tender texture, naturally green and health-promoting. It is known to nourish the skin, improve complexion, relieve constipation, dry dampness, clear heat, soothe itching, and delay aging.

　　In 2011, with the approval of the National Standardization Management Committee, the Lingshan Grass Jelly Herb Cultivation Standardization Demonstration Zone became the seventh batch of national agricultural standardization demonstration projects. In 2012, Lingshan Grass Jelly was approved by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine as a geographical indication protected product. The “Yufeng and Graphic” trademark of Lingshan Yufeng Health Food Factory was recognized as a well-known Chinese trademark by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.