Heizhugou Prickly Ash

Heizhugou Prickly Ash

Heizhugou Prickly Ash is a geographical indication protected product.

Heizhugou Prickly Ash is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Heizhugou Prickly Ash, also known as oil pepper or fragrant pepper, is a plant with a unique aroma and flavor. Its fruit oil is glossy, its fragrance is rich and volatile, and its taste is numbing and aromatic, deeply fragrant and intense. It offers seasoning, spleen-strengthening, wind-dispelling, and cold-scattering benefits, and is regarded by locals as a prized seasoning used to entertain honored guests and enhance festive dishes. Heizhugou Prickly Ash mainly grows in the Jinsha River basin and the upper reaches of the Dadu River, harvested from misty mountains at altitudes of 1,800–3,000 meters. The production area features a high-mountain forest climate, surrounded by peaks, rarely visited by humans, with fertile soil, mild weather, and abundant rainfall—ideal conditions for prickly ash growth. Heizhugou Prickly Ash has a long history. The *Compendium of Materia Medica* records: “Its fruit, when used medicinally, can dispel cold and toxins, activate blood circulation, aid digestion, strengthen the stomach, and increase appetite. The fruit can be dried or used to extract aromatic oil.” In addition to its medicinal value, the extracted aromatic oil is also an excellent seasoning. As a traditional specialty of Ebian County, it has a long planting history. According to the *Ebian Yi Autonomous County Annals (1988–2003)*: “Heizhugou Prickly Ash is both a top-tier seasoning and one of the main ingredients in spicy sauces. Since 1999, the county has established 333.3 hectares of production bases and set up the ‘Liu’s Spicy Sauce Factory’ as a leading enterprise to promote the development of prickly ash cultivation.” The modern development of Heizhugou Prickly Ash has been rapid. In 2003, towns such as Shaping, Honghua, Xuanping, and Dabao newly planted 326.6 hectares of prickly ash, yielding 25 tons of fresh produce. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, new planting bases of 4,580 mu, 5,000 mu, and 1,200 mu were established respectively. The Ebian County government included prickly ash in its industrial development plan, introduced preferential policies to encourage industry growth. The *Ebian Yi Autonomous County Post-Disaster Reconstruction Plan (2008–2015)* explicitly proposed guiding agriculture toward moderate-scale operations and agricultural science demonstration zones from 2008 onward, promoting the transition from low-efficiency to high-efficiency agriculture, advancing science-led farming, leveraging industry-driven and radiating effects. By 2015, the county aimed to establish 15,000 mu of new prickly ash bases. The “Heizhugou Prickly Ash” brand has developed over many years, earning certifications such as international quality management systems, pollution-free product certification, green food certification, and organic food certification. Meanwhile, Heizhugou Prickly Ash is sold to major cities across the province and beyond, enjoying an excellent reputation with broad market potential and promising industrial prospects.

　　The Heizhugou Prickly Ash series uses raw materials sourced from misty mountains at altitudes of 1,800–3,000 meters, where the high-mountain forest climate prevails. Surrounded by peaks, rarely frequented by people, the region boasts fertile soil, mild weather, and abundant rainfall, with absolutely no pollution. The resulting prickly ash products are richly aromatic and authentically numbing, making them an excellent choice for seasoning.

　　Through measures such as expanding production bases and strengthening leading enterprises, Ebian Yi Autonomous County has steadily grown its prickly ash industry. Total production now spans 239,550 hectares, with an annual yield of 30,000 tons.

　　Heizhugou Prickly Ash

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographical indication protection area for the Heizhugou Prickly Ash agricultural product includes 19 townships in Ebian Yi Autonomous County, Leshan City, Sichuan Province: Shaping Town, Dabao Town, Maoping Town, Wudu Town, Xinlin Town, Heizhugou Town, Honghua Township, Yiping Township, Yangcun Township, Baiyang Township, Juego Township, Wanping Township, Yanghe Township, Gonghe Township, Xinchang Township, Pingdeng Township, Haqu Township, Jinyan Township, and Lewu Township. These cover 129 administrative villages, with geographic coordinates between 102°54'–103°33' east longitude and 28°39'–29°19' north latitude. The area borders Shawan District and Muchuan County to the east, neighbors Mabian Yi Autonomous County to the south, connects with Meigu County and Ganluo County to the west, and adjoins Emeishan City and Jinkouhe District to the north. The protected area spans 239,550 hectares, with an annual yield of 30,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: The commercial fruit of Heizhugou Prickly Ash is bright green when fresh and turns yellow-green upon maturity. It has a fragrant aroma characteristic of fresh peppercorns, a long-lasting numbing taste, and no off-flavors. The fruit spikes are long, the berries are relatively large, and the oil cavities are abundant and glossy. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Heizhugou Prickly Ash contains ≥2.0 ml/100g of volatile oil and ≥1,000 mg/kg of amide substances. (3) Safety Requirements: It meets the quality standards of *Pollution-Free Spices*, NY5230-2005.