Xiba Ginger

Xiba Ginger

Xiba Ginger is a product with a geographical indication.

　　Xiba Ginger has a long cultivation history. According to historical records, during the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, it was listed as an imperial tribute. It is known for being thick, rich in flavor, crisp, and tender with no fibers. Thanks to its unique geographical environment and soil, the ginger resembles the slender, delicate hands of a beautiful woman and is also called “Fairy Ginger of Xiba.” Its products are highly popular along the Min River.

　　“Xiba Ginger — Beauty’s Fingers.” During the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1436–1449), Xiba Ginger was listed as an imperial tribute due to its freshness, tenderness, aroma, crispness, thick flesh, strong flavor, crisp texture, and lack of fibers. This designation continued uninterrupted through the Qing Dynasty despite dynastic changes. Owing to the area’s distinctive geography and soil, the ginger resembles the slender fingers of a beautiful woman, hence the name “Fairy Ginger of Xiba.” Historical records show that in the 1920s and 1930s, the cultivation area of Xiba Ginger ranged from 400 to 500 mu. After liberation, it was typically around 2,000 to 3,000 mu. In 1985, it reached 6,500 mu, yielding 16,250 tons of fresh ginger. In 1991, the area planted was 2,600 mu, producing 6,500 tons of ginger. That year, supply exceeded demand in the market, leading to a sharp reduction in planting area to just 1,600 mu the following year.

　　The origin of Xiba Ginger is in Laomukong, covering three villages including Aiguo in Xiba and Guanyingheqiao Village. The area has a history of ginger cultivation spanning several hundred years. In the past, due to low levels of organized production, Xiba Ginger—despite its quality—struggled to find buyers (“even the emperor’s daughter finds marriage hard”), leading to sales difficulties that affected local farmers’ motivation. In recent years, the Wutongqiao District has actively explored ways to improve the organization of ginger farmers. Led by Party branches, supported by associations, and aimed at increasing farmers' income, the region has pursued a path of standardized development, improving pre-production, mid-production, and post-production services. This has once again boosted the enthusiasm of ginger farmers. As of this year, the ginger cultivation area alone in Guanying Town has reached 9,000 mu, involving nearly 400 farming households.

　　In 2014, “Xiba Ginger,” applied for by the Wutongqiao District Agricultural Technology Extension Center of Leshan City, passed the review of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, and was granted national geographical indication registration protection for agricultural products.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected geographic indication area for Xiba Ginger includes 12 towns (or townships) in Wutongqiao District: Xiba Town, Guanying Town, Shilin Town, Caijin Town, Xinyun Township, Jinshan Town, Huishan Town, Qiaogou Town, Jinshu Town, Zhugen Town, Yangliu Town, and Niuhua Town, encompassing 150 administrative villages. The geographical coordinates are: longitude 103°39′45″–103°56′48″, latitude 29°17′29″–29°31′30″. It borders Jiangyan County to the east, connects to Qianwei County to the south, adjoins Shawan District to the west, and neighbors the urban district to the north. The protected area covers 30,000 mu, with an annual yield of 60,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Quality Characteristics: Xiba Ginger is shaped like jade fingers, with a clean white color and crimson tips at the top. Each stalk is over 20 cm long and weighs more than 0.5 kg. It has many branches, thin skin, tender flesh, few fibers, a relatively strong spicy flavor, is crisp, and has good commercial appeal. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Xiba Ginger has crude fiber ≤0.9% and vitamin C ≥1.8 mg/100g. (3) Safety Requirements: Xiba Ginger meets the relevant national legal standards.