Fengdu Pickled Mustard Greens

Fengdu Pickled Mustard Greens

Fengdu Pickled Mustard Greens is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Produced in Fengdu, Chongqing.

　　Made from mustard green stems—thick, tender, juicy, and bulbous stems commonly referred to as “cai tou.” The processing method involves selecting tender, well-shaped, and fresh mustard green stems, which are then peeled, skewered, sun-dried, pickled, stored in piles, repickled, pressed, trimmed, de-veined, shaped, graded, rinsed, mixed with ingredients, and packed into jars, then sealed. After trimming and shaping, the excess brine is filtered out, and the greens are mixed with salt, premium dried chili powder, cardamom, white pepper, star anise, sandalwood, fennel, licorice, dried ginger, and Sichuan peppercorn, among other valuable plant-based spice powders. They are then placed in earthenware jars for sealed fermentation. The final product features a greenish color, bright red chili powder, uniformly sized pieces, a crisp and tender texture, a rich aroma, and a well-balanced salty flavor. It remains firm when cooked and grows more fragrant with time. It also boasts high nutritional value, aiding digestion, cutting through greasiness, and stimulating appetite.

　　 Aiming to strengthen its position as a “national export base for pickled mustard greens,” the county has established 180,000 mu of cultivation bases, covering 23 towns and subdistricts, involving over 60,000 farming households and more than 2,000 people engaged in processing and sales. The participation rate of farming households in planting areas reaches 65%. There are currently nine leading pickled mustard greens enterprises in the area, with their export volumes ranking first in the city for several consecutive years. By 2020, the county plans to cultivate 300,000 mu of pickled mustard greens, producing 600,000 tons of fresh mustard green stems and processing 250,000 tons into premium products. The number of pickled mustard greens enterprises will reach 15 (including two at the national level), achieving an annual output value of 1.5 billion yuan.