Tangjiahe Honey

Tangjiahe Honey

Tangjiahe Honey is a product with geographical indication.

　　Tangjiahe wild honey is a famous specialty of Qingchuan County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, produced within the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve. This honey has a unique flavor, rich in wild taste, and offers an exceptionally delightful sweetness.

　　In the depths of the Min Mountains in northwestern Sichuan lies a vast 40,000-hectare primeval forest, where the world-famous Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve is located. Here, majestic mountains rise, the forests are dense, and flowers bloom in a riot of colors, filling the air with fragrance. The area boasts extremely rich animal and plant resources, and there are no villagers living within the reserve, ensuring zero pollution.

　　Tangjiahe wild plant honey comes from deep within this primeval forest. It is sourced from the nectar of over 70 species of wild, premium medicinal plants such as Fritillaria, Gastrodia elata, Codonopsis pilosula, Codonopsis lanceolata, Eucommia ulmoides, Chaenomeles sinensis, Lonicera japonica, and Dioscorea opposita, as well as from trees and flowering plants like linden, Chinese tallow tree, raspberry, redbud, chestnut, and kiwi. Due to the high altitude and large diurnal temperature variation, the honey produced here has a unique flavor, rich in wild essence, and offers an exceptionally delightful sweetness. Tangjiahe Honey has a long production history. Among the most widely told legends is that of General Deng Ai encountering trouble at Yinping Pass and being aided by the divine physician Hua Tuo. Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, in October of the fourth year of the Jingyuan era of the Wei Kingdom, General Deng Ai of the Western Expedition led his troops from Yinping and advanced through over 700 li of uninhabited land. After more than 20 days of hardship, they finally reached the perilous and nearly impassable Qingshanting Ridge. Deng Ai abandoned his horse and proceeded on foot, only to find the ridge shrouded in clouds and fog. He sighed, “This ridge is so high, we might as well be scaling the heavens!” Deng Ai led his troops down Moutian Ridge wrapped in felt. Though relieved to have survived the descent, the army was riddled with wounded soldiers. When they finally reached the area around Daxiong Mountain (now Shuxieyan), both men and horses were utterly exhausted. Deng Ai ordered the troops to rest, and upon hearing the command, the soldiers rushed to the river to drink water. But shortly after drinking, the soldiers began to collapse, writhing on the ground before becoming weak and unable to stand. Deng Ai was horrified and cried out, “Heaven is dooming us!” Just as he was at his wit’s end, he noticed a swarm of bees circling his head three times before slowly flying away. Sensing something profound, Deng Ai followed the bees until they disappeared in front of a thatched cottage. The cottage was surrounded by blooming flowers with a delightful fragrance, and dozens of beehives were scattered among the blossoms, with bees flying busily about. A white-haired elder stood at the door, nodding and smiling at Deng Ai. Deng Ai immediately bowed and said, “Led here by divine bees, I have the fortune to see your venerable face. I am blessed with great karma. I beseech you, in your compassion, to save my soldiers!” The elder then followed Deng Ai to the foot of Daxiong Mountain. After examining the soldiers, he said, “The wounds have allowed forest miasma to penetrate the skin, and the soldiers drank river water mixed with medicinal herbs, which triggered the illness. I had foreseen this and already prepared a remedy using honey and various herbs.” Following the elder’s instructions, Deng Ai’s army was cured. Once everyone had recovered, the elder spoke solemnly to Deng Ai, “Your journey ahead will be smooth, and success is near. However, the Han dynasty is in decline, and its fate is sealed. Yet the people of the Two Sichuans are about to suffer from war—truly pitiful. As for the fate of the young emperor and the court ministers, it remains to be seen. Once you enter their lands, I urge you not to slaughter innocent lives. Remember this well.” With those words, the elder vanished. Later, when Deng Ai entered Shu, he learned from descriptions that the elder was none other than the divine physician Hua Tuo. “Tangjiahe Honey” gets its name from the Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve where it is produced. The local Tangjiahe Chinese honeybee is a variety formed through long-term natural selection. Owing to its unique benefits, Tangjiahe Honey has become a daily beverage among the mountain folk.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Tangjiahe Honey is located on the northern edge of the Sichuan Basin, along the lower reaches of the Bailong River, at the junction of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces. The terrain is primarily mid-level mountains, with some low mid-mountains, low mountains, hills, plateaus, valleys, and small plains. The highest elevation is 3,837 meters, and the lowest is 871 meters. The specific geographic coordinates are between 104°36'–105°38' east longitude and 32°12'–32°56' north latitude. The area spans 95.7 kilometers from east to west and 87.8 kilometers from north to south, covering a total of 3,216 square kilometers. The protected area also spans 3,216 square kilometers, with 2,861 square kilometers dedicated to production. In 2009, the annual honey production was 150 tons. The production region of Tangjiahe Honey includes three nature reserves in Qingchuan County: Tangjiahe, Maozhai, and Dongyanggou, as well as three scenic areas: Bailong Lake, Yinping Ancient Road, and Jinshishan.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External sensory characteristics: Tangjiahe Honey is semi-fluid, light in color and thick in consistency, with no impurities. Upon opening, it emits a strong aroma of the floral source, with a fragrant and rich scent. It tastes sweet and delicious without being cloying, offering a pure, refreshing fragrance along with the distinct floral aromas of its nectar sources. (2) Internal quality indicators: Sampling tests show that the internal quality indicators of Tangjiahe Honey significantly surpass those of regular honey. It contains 20% moisture, which is 4% lower than average; 63.19% fructose and glucose, 3.19% higher than average; 0.106% ash content, 0.024% lower than average; 0.0046 mg/100g of vitamin B1, 0.0024 mg/100g higher than average; and 0.2 mg/100g of vitamin B2, 0.12 mg/100g higher than average. (3) Safety requirements: In accordance with Sichuan Province's standards for "Pollution-Free Bee Products – Beekeeping Management" and "Pollution-Free Bee Products – Honey Production and Quality," strict management of Chinese honeybee breeding is enforced to prevent disease spread, enhance disease resistance, and minimize the use of medications. When medication is necessary, it must comply with the "Pollution-Free Food – Guidelines for Veterinary Drug Use in Beekeeping." All medications must meet the regulations outlined in the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia for Veterinary Use," "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 with a "Veterinary Drug Production License" and product approval numbers, or from suppliers with an "Imported Veterinary Drug License." The use of medication and disinfectants during honey production is strictly prohibited.