Tianma (Gastrodia elata) from Yingjing

Tianma from Yingjing

Yingjing Tianma is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Yingjing Tianma, a renowned specialty of Yingjing County in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, is large, firm, and oval-shaped, slightly flattened, with a reddish-brown or red sprout bud at the top, commonly known as "parrot beak." The bottom has a round umbilical scar. The surface is yellowish-white to light yellowish-brown, hard in texture, with a fine and dense cross-section, keratin-like and semi-transparent. It has a faint aroma and sweet taste.

　　Yingjing County is under the jurisdiction of Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, located in the mountainous area around the transitional zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. With a forest coverage rate of up to 67%, dozens of tree species (such as oak, stinking styrax, Huamu, wild walnut, cherry, and sweet gum) can be used for cultivating Tianma. The unique three-dimensional altitude climate ranges from 680 to 3666 meters.

　　Yingjing Tianma is large, firm, and oval-shaped, slightly flattened, measuring 3–9 cm in length, 1.5–6 cm in width, and 0.5–2 cm in thickness. The top features a reddish-brown or red sprout bud, commonly called "parrot beak." The bottom has a round umbilical scar. The surface is yellowish-white to light yellowish-brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and multiple horizontal rings formed by dormant buds, sometimes showing brownish mycelium threads. It is hard in texture, with a fine and dense, keratin-like, semi-transparent cross-section. It has a faint aroma and sweet taste. A local folk rhyme in Yingjing—"parrot beak, red cap, lotus bud shape, jade belt around the waist, tender skin and flesh, semi-transparent"—vividly summarizes the typical characteristics of Yingjing Tianma. Moreover, the main medicinal component of Yingjing Tianma, gastrodin, is higher than in other producing areas.

　　Yingjing Tianma is as famous as the history of Yingjing itself, being widely sold both within and outside the province as early as the Qing Dynasty. During the planned economy period, Yingjing Tianma was included in the national and provincial allocation plans and foreign trade export plans. It was displayed and sold at the tourist shops in Dujiangyan, Guanxian County, at De Ren Tang in Chengdu, and at the De Ren Tang tourist counters on Beijing’s Dashilan Street. Companies such as the Xin Hui County Medicinal Materials Company in Guangdong Province and the Shanghai Medicinal Materials Company once sent specialists from afar to Yingjing County to request the supply of Yingjing Tianma for ocean liners and foreign guests. As Yingjing Tianma contributed to foreign trade exports and earned foreign exchange for the country, Yingjing County was awarded the Sichuan Provincial Pharmaceutical System Management Excellence First Prize for two consecutive years. In 2002, Yingjing Tianma received the "Famous and High-Quality Agricultural Products Award" at the Western China Expo.

　　Tianma from Yingjing

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of the Yingjing Tianma geographical indication agricultural product includes all administrative villages across 21 townships in Yingjing County, Sichuan Province: Xinjian Township, Sanhe Township, Xinmiao Township, Siping Township, Lieshi Township, Yinghe Township, Minjian Township, Huatan Town, Anjing Township, Lietai Township, [X Township], Xintian Township, Tianfeng Township, Baofeng Township, Datianba Township, Longcanggou Township, Yanzhu Township, Qinglong Township, Wuxian Township, Fujia Township, and Yandao Town. The geographic coordinates are: longitude 102°20′ to 102°56′, latitude 29°29′ to 29°56′, covering a total area of 106,860 hectares, with an annual yield of 5,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Yingjing Tianma is large, firm, and oval-shaped, slightly flattened, measuring 3–9 cm in length, 1.5–6 cm in width, and 0.5–2 cm in thickness. The top has a reddish-brown or red sprout bud, commonly known as "parrot beak." The bottom has a round umbilical scar. The surface is yellowish-white to light yellowish-brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and multiple horizontal rings formed by dormant buds, sometimes showing brownish mycelium threads. It is hard in texture, with a fine and dense, keratin-like, semi-transparent cross-section. It has a faint aroma and sweet taste. A local folk rhyme in Yingjing—"parrot beak, red cap, lotus bud shape, jade belt around the waist, tender skin and flesh, semi-transparent"—vividly outlines the typical features of Yingjing Tianma.   (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Yingjing Tianma has a long history of medicinal use and is effective in dispelling wind, calming convulsions, and treating dizziness. Its quality is superior to that of other producing areas in China, with a notably high content of gastrodin, its main component, which exceeds that of ordinary Tianma.   Gastrodin:   Yingjing Tianma ≥0.6%   Ordinary Tianma ≥0.2%   (3) Safety Requirements: The safety indicators of the product must meet the relevant national regulations for similar products. The production of the product complies with the following standards:   • Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2000 Edition), Part I;   • Good Agricultural Practice for Chinese Crude Drugs (Trial) (2002, No. 3);   • Green Industry Standard for Import and Export of Medicinal Plants and Their Preparations by the Ministry of Foreign Trade (2001).