Wanzhou Mountain Pepper

Wanzhou Mountain Pepper

Wanzhou Mountain Pepper is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　　Mountain pepper is an excellent aromatic economic tree species in China. Its flowers, leaves, and fruits can be steam-distilled to extract mountain pepper oil, which is widely used in food, medicine, daily chemicals, and many other fields. Wanzhou has abundant wild resources of mountain pepper in mid-to-high altitude areas between 400–1200 meters, but the varieties are inconsistent. To significantly develop the mountain pepper aromatic industry and boost income and prosperity among farmers in mid-to-high altitude regions, it is essential to select and breed superior varieties based on local conditions.

　　　　Since 2001, Chongqing Hecai Mountain Pepper Co., Ltd. has been engaged in the planting, selection, processing, and sales of mountain pepper in Wanzhou District. The company has sent personnel to provinces and cities such as Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hunan to study the growth habits, resource distribution, and strain conditions of mountain pepper. After nearly six years of effort, Hecai Mountain Pepper Company finally selected an outstanding variety in Wanzhou that features strong sprouting ability, drought tolerance, disease resistance, rapid growth, high yield, large particle size, pure aroma, and over 75% content of component 1. Five-year-old dwarf, densely-planted plants of this variety can yield up to 2200 kg per mu, with an oil extraction rate of 4.5%. This variety is particularly suitable for cultivation in mid-to-high altitude areas below 1400 meters in the reservoir region, laying a solid foundation for Wanzhou to vigorously develop the specialty mountain pepper industry.

　　Wanzhou District is actively building a "National Hometown of Mountain Pepper." First, the current aromatic planting area covers 35,000 mu, including the city’s only Osmanthus seedling base—the Changtan Osmanthus Mother Tree Garden. Within this, a 2,500-mu mountain pepper base has been established, with an annual processing capacity of 162 tons of fresh mountain pepper fruits, producing 3.5 tons of essential oil and 432 tons of synthetic flavored mountain pepper oil. Mountain pepper products sell well domestically and are exported to Southeast Asia. Second, by 2012, a 50,000-mu mountain pepper raw material base will be developed, including a 5,000-mu science and technology demonstration core base, and a 1,000-mu variety collection area, aiming to collect, cultivate, and select superior mountain pepper varieties suited for the district's high, mid, and low altitude zones, striving to establish a national-level mountain pepper variety gene bank. Third, mountain pepper product series will aim for municipal brand recognition, and origin registration is underway. By 2020, the goal is to establish an 80,000-mu mountain pepper raw material base, build a “National Hometown of Mountain Pepper,” and create a national mountain pepper distribution market.

　　Wanzhou Mountain Pepper

　　Wanzhou District, Chongqing City, Mountain Pepper Professional Technology Association

　　12030307

　　Mountain Pepper (seasoning)