Mount Emei Tengjiao

Mount Emei Tengjiao

Mount Emei Tengjiao is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Mount Emei Tengjiao is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Mount Emei Tengjiao is a famous specialty of Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Both Leshan and Meishan cities in Sichuan produce it, but that from Mount Emei is the most renowned. Its fruits are the plumpest, naturally aromatic, and have a high oil yield, earning it the nickname “chunky pepper.”

　　Tengjiao, also known as oil pepper or fragrant pepper, is a plant with a unique aroma and taste. It belongs to the Rutaceae family and is an important oil and spice tree species. Growing three to nine feet tall, the tree has a dark gray bark, is often thorny, and hairless. It features single-compound leaves clustered together, numerous small flowers, and glossy fruit oil. Its flavor is fragrant and volatile, with a numbing and aromatic taste. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, its fruit has medicinal properties for dispelling cold and detoxifying, resolving blood stasis and activating meridians, aiding digestion and invigorating the stomach, and increasing appetite. The fruit can be dried and used to extract aromatic oil, i.e., Tengjiao oil, which serves as a seasoning, strengthens the spleen, and expels wind and cold.

　　Tengjiao has a wide range of uses and high economic value. Industrially, it is used similarly to regular Sichuan peppercorns for making lubricants, paints, and soap. The cake residue from Tengjiao can be used as fertilizer and livestock feed, while its seeds, peel, and leaves all have medicinal uses. The peel is a traditional Chinese herb known for warming the middle energizer and relieving pain, promoting blood circulation, lowering blood pressure, preventing thrombosis, strengthening the spleen and stomach, and dispelling wind and dampness. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is notably effective for chronic gastritis and can also be placed in grain storage to prevent pests. Tengjiao branches are thorny and can be planted as hedges or along boundaries, beautifying the environment while generating additional income. Tengjiao grows quickly, yields early, offers high returns, and has diverse applications. Currently, it is mainly used for extracting Tengjiao oil.

　　Tengjiao oil has a bright color. It tastes refreshing, with a rich numbing aroma and a long-lasting numbing flavor. It is more fragrant, numbing, and eco-friendly than regular Sichuan peppercorn oil, making it an ideal everyday condiment for hotels, restaurants, and households, as well as a great gift for family and friends.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The protected production area of Mount Emei Tengjiao covers nine towns (Suishan, Luomu, Longchi, Eshan, Dawei, Fuxi, Shuangfu, Gaoqiao, Shengli) and six townships (Longmen, Chuanzhu, Shaxi, Xinping, Puxing, Huangwan) within the administrative region of Mount Emei City. The geographical coordinates are between 103°10′30″ to 103°37′10″ east longitude and 29°16′30″ to 29°43′42″ north latitude, at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1000 meters. The protected area spans 2,000 hectares with an annual output of 1,200 tons. Mount Emei City is located in the southwest of Sichuan Province, on the southwestern edge of the Sichuan Basin. It borders the Sichuan Western Plain to the northeast and connects to the Greater and Lesser Liangshan Mountains to the southwest, serving as a transitional zone from the basin to the high mountains. It is approximately 25 kilometers wide from east to west and 46 kilometers long from north to south, resembling an irregular rectangle. It neighbors the downtown area of Leshan City to the east, borders Ebian County to the south, neighbors Hongya to the west, and adjoins Jiajiang to the north.