Honey from Fengtong

Honey from Fengtong

Fengtong Honey is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Wanquan Fengtong Honey is a specialty of Fengtong Township in Wanquan City, Dazhou, Sichuan Province. Known locally as "medicinal flower honey" or "hundred-herb honey," it is a traditional farming activity for local households, with harvesting taking place after the White Dew solar term each year. The beekeeping areas are located at altitudes above 1,300 meters, where wildflowers, yam blossoms, and vegetable flowers on the mountains serve as the main nectar sources. Long-term consumption of Fengtong Honey has special therapeutic effects on the lungs, stomach, and other functions of the human body.

　　Wanquan City is a national-level ecological demonstration city, located at the southern foot of the Daba Mountains in northeastern Sichuan Province. It lies at the junction of Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Chongqing, serving as the climate boundary between northern and southern China, as well as the watershed between the Jialing River and the Han River. The region features a subtropical humid monsoon climate. The area is characterized by overlapping mountains and crisscrossing ravines, with the highest elevation at 2,412 meters and the lowest at 335 meters. The forest coverage rate is 66.8%. The climate is moist and foggy, with distinct vertical climatic zones. The annual average temperature is 14.7°C, the average frost-free period exceeds 230 days, and the average annual rainfall is 1,169.3 mm.

　　Fengtong Honey gets its name because it is mainly produced in Fengtong Township of the city. The production area is located at the southern foot of the Daba Mountains in northeastern Sichuan Province. The local honey is known as "medicinal flower honey" or "hundred-herb honey." It is a traditional farming activity for local households, with harvesting taking place after the White Dew solar term each year, using wildflowers, yam blossoms, and vegetable flowers on the mountains as the main nectar sources. Long-term consumption has special therapeutic effects on the lungs, stomach, and other functions of the human body.

　　Fengtong Honey is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Honey from Fengtong

　　Geographical Scope

　　The production area of Fengtong Honey is Wanquan City in northeastern Sichuan Province. Located in the heart of the Daba Mountains and at the junction of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Chongqing, the city is part of a nationally restricted development zone. It borders Chengkou County of Chongqing to the east, Xuanhan County to the south, Pingchang County and Tongjiang County to the west, and Zhenba County and Ziyang County of Shaanxi Province to the north. It comprises 52 townships, covering an area of 4,065 square kilometers. The region boasts superior ecological conditions and serves as an important green ecological barrier in the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, often referred to as the "back garden of Chongqing." The protected area for Fengtong Honey includes 13 townships: Fengtong, Yantang, Jingxi, Jiuyuan, Baiyang, Gujun, Tiekuang, Shitang, Shatan, Baisha, Caojia, Hu'e, and Batai. Its geographical coordinates are between 107°56′–108°31′ east longitude and 31°42′–32°06′ north latitude, spanning 49 km from east to west and 44 km from north to south, covering an area of 1,060 square kilometers, with an annual production of over 100 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Fengtong Honey is light yellow and semi-solid, thick like grease, free of impurities. When the lid is opened, it exudes a rich floral fragrance with a fragrant and mellow aroma. It tastes sweet without being cloying, offering a pure, fresh fragrance and the scent of plant blossoms. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Sampling tests show that the internal quality indicators of Fengtong Honey far exceed those of ordinary honey. Specifically: moisture content ≤20.0%; fructose content ≥35.0%, glucose content ≥33.0%, combined fructose and glucose content ≥68.0%; vitamin B1 content ≥0.021 mg/100g; vitamin B2 content ≥0.50 mg/100g. 3. Safety Requirements: In accordance with Sichuan Province’s “Pollution-Free Bee Products – Beekeeping Management” and “Pollution-Free Bee Products – Honey Production and Quality,” the management of Chinese honeybee breeding is strengthened to prevent disease transmission, enhance disease resistance, and generally avoid the use of medications. When medication is necessary for treatment, it must comply with the “Pollution-Free Food – Guidelines for Veterinary Drug Use in Beekeeping.” All medications used must meet the standards set by the “Chinese Pharmacopoeia for Veterinary Drugs,” “Chinese Veterinary Drug Specifications,” “Imported Veterinary Drug Quality Standards,” and the “List of Veterinary Drugs and Other Compounds Prohibited for Use in Food Animals” issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. These medications must come from manufacturers holding a “Veterinary Drug Production License” and product approval numbers, or suppliers with an “Imported Veterinary Drug License.”