Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium

Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium

Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Sichuan Provincial Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision. Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium. The current administrative regions of three towns in Jiajiang County, Sichuan Province: Xiemazhen, Malvuzhen, and Huatouzhen. "Letter from the People's Government of Jiajiang County on Delimiting the Geographical Indication Product Protection Area of Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium," Jiafu Letter [2013] No. 14. Technical specifications from Liuxi Dendrobium Professional Cooperative of Jiajiang County: JJLQSH001-2010 "Production Technical Specifications for Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium"

　　Quality and Technical Requirements for Jiajiang Dieqiao Dendrobium

　　I. Origin

　　Dendrobium denneanum Kerr. (Dieqiao Dendrobium)

　　II. Growing Conditions

　　Wild or wild-simulated environment, selecting production areas more than 100m away from main traffic roads, with abundant rainfall, an average annual temperature of around 17°C, average relative humidity of about 80%, and a good ecological environment. Altitude ranges from 400m to 1300m. Cultivation is done on sandy rocks, stone walls, or among scattered rocks, with soil pH between 7.0 and 9.0, and organic matter content ≥1.0%.

　　III. Cultivation Management

　　1. Propagation Methods: Select 3-year-old healthy plants and propagate through division or keiki propagation.

　　2. Cultivation Method: Primarily using the rock-attached cultivation method.

　　3. Planting Density: Reasonable close planting, no more than 400 clusters per 667㎡ (1 acre).

　　4. Irrigation and Drainage:

　　(1) Irrigation: During the high-temperature periods of summer and autumn, irrigation should be done by spraying in the early morning and evening. In spring and winter, irrigate around noon when temperatures are slightly higher, ensuring the growing medium is appropriately moist but not waterlogged.

　　(2) Drainage: Keep drainage ditches clear at all times, drain promptly after rain to prevent water accumulation.

　　5. Weeding: Manual weeding is carried out from May to August, with no less than three weedings per year.

　　6. Fertilization: After the dendrobium has become established, apply fertilizer up to two times within one year. Early spring fertilization is generally done in February to March; early autumn fertilization is done in September to October, using the supernatant of well-rotted farmyard manure or multi-element compound fertilizer solution at 15,000 kg/h㎡. Fertilizing should be done after the dew has dried in the early morning.

　　7. Environmental and Safety Requirements: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, etc., must comply with national regulations and must not cause environmental pollution.

　　IV. Harvesting and Processing

　　1. Harvesting: Can be harvested annually from autumn to the following spring, with the optimal period being November to December. Harvesting methods include harvesting the old while leaving the new, or whole-plant harvesting. For the old-and-new method, harvest plants that have grown for more than 18 months, taking the above-ground parts.

　　2. Primary Processing: For fresh use, remove roots and soil; for drying, after harvesting, remove impurities, briefly scald with boiling water or soften by drying, then rub and dry while turning until leaves are mostly removed, and dry at below 65°C to achieve moisture content ≤12%. Dried stems can also be twisted into a spiral or spring shape to make "fengdou" (dendrobium "corkscrews"); alternatively, dried stems may be cut into sections (segments).

　　V. Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory Characteristics:

　　(1) Fresh Product: The stems are cylindrical, approximately 20cm to 60cm in length, 0.5cm to 1.5cm in diameter. Surface is yellowish-green, smooth or with longitudinal grooves, nodes are distinct and darker in color, covered with membranous leaf sheaths. Flesh is juicy and fleshy, easily broken. Slight aroma, mildly bitter with a sweet aftertaste, sticky when chewed.

　　(2) Dried Product: The stems are slender and cylindrical, unbranched, nearly uniform in thickness from top to bottom, often slightly curved at the upper part, approximately 20cm to 45cm in length, 0.2cm to 1.2cm in diameter, internodes 1.5cm to 5.5cm long. Surface is yellowish-green, glossy, smooth or with longitudinal grooves; nodes are distinct, slightly swollen, darker in color. Texture is firm and brittle, easily broken, fracture surface is light yellowish-brown with short fibrous vascular bundles visible. Slight aroma, mildly bitter with a sweet aftertaste, sticky when chewed.

　　(3) Fengdou (Dendrobium Corkscrew): Spiraled or spring-shaped, usually with 3 to 6 coils. When straightened, length is 5cm to 10cm, diameter 0.2cm to 1.2cm. Surface is yellowish-green, glossy, smooth or with longitudinal grooves; nodes are distinct, slightly swollen, darker in color. Texture is firm and brittle, easily broken, fracture surface is light yellowish-brown with short fibrous vascular bundles visible. Slight aroma, mildly bitter with a sweet aftertaste, sticky when chewed.

　　(4) Sliced Product: Cylindrical, approximately 5 to 15mm in length, 0.2 to 1.2cm in diameter. Surface is yellowish-green, glossy, smooth or with longitudinal grooves; nodes are distinct, slightly swollen, darker in color. Texture is firm and brittle, easily broken, fracture surface is light yellowish-brown with short fibrous vascular bundles visible. Slight aroma, mildly bitter with a sweet aftertaste, sticky when chewed.

　　2. Physicochemical Indicators: Fresh product moisture ≤85.0%, dried product, fengdou, and sliced product moisture ≤12.0%; total ash ≤4.0%, extractives ≥10.0% (using 50% ethanol as solvent), polysaccharide content ≥8.0% (calculated as glucose).

　　3. Safety and other quality technical requirements: The safety and other quality technical requirements of the product must comply with relevant national regulations.