Jiulong Prickly Ash

Jiulong Prickly Ash

Jiulong Prickly Ash is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Jiulong County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province has been honored as the "Hometown of Chinese Prickly Ash" by the Flower Food Professional Committee of the China National Food Industry Association. Located in the core ecological protection zone of the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the county not only has an environment well-suited for prickly ash growth but also ensures the purity of the spice, achieving the AA-grade green food standard by using only organic fertilizers and no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The county now has 160,000 mu of prickly ash under cultivation, averaging 3.3 mu per capita—the highest in China.

　　Historically, after Jiulong came under the jurisdiction of the Mingzheng Tusi family of Kangding, successive Mingzheng Tusi rulers would inspect Jiulong, and the first thing they sought was Jiulong Prickly Ash. They required Jiulong to pay the spice as a local tax to the Mingzheng family every year. During dry years, the local authorities would gather the finest prickly ash from the villages, pack it according to specified quantities, and deliver it to the Mingzheng family, who would then package it further and send it to the imperial court as tribute. Over time, Jiulong Prickly Ash became an indispensable “Tibetan Tribute Pepper.”

　　Known as “Tribute Pepper,” Jiulong Prickly Ash thrives best at altitudes between 2,200m and 2,800m. Sixteen townships in Jiulong County are suitable for its cultivation. With a long history of prickly ash cultivation, the county is one of China’s rare sources of primal prickly ash seed stock. To preserve the purity of this seed stock, a scientific survey of local prickly ash varieties was conducted in the 1980s, and hundreds of thousands of yuan were invested to establish a quality breeding system and develop new varieties.

　　Jiulong Prickly Ash offers numerous health benefits and is highly beneficial when consumed regularly. It removes the gaminess from various meats; stimulates saliva production and boosts appetite; dilates blood vessels, thereby helping to lower blood pressure; and drinking water infused with the pepper can help expel parasites. It also aids digestion with its aromatic and stomach-soothing properties, warms the body to dispel cold, removes dampness and relieves pain, kills parasites and detoxifies, while also soothing itching and eliminating odors.

　　Jiulong Prickly Ash features large grains and thick flesh with glossy, oil-rich color. Renowned for its rich and mellow flavor, it is especially famous for varieties such as “Zhenglu Pepper,” “Dahongpao,” and “Gaojiao Huang.” The prickly ash produced in Quxi, Jiulong, also known as “Tribute Pepper,” was once an essential seasoning in the imperial kitchens.

　　The production area of Jiulong Prickly Ash includes the administrative regions of 18 townships in Jiulong County, Sichuan Province: Jia’er Town, Tanggu Township, Naiqu Township, Wulaxi Township, Taka Township, Xieka Township, Yandai Township, Zi’er Township, Sanya Township, E’er Township, Sanyanlong Township, Bawolong Township, Shangtuan Township, Xiaojin Township, Duoluo Township, Kuoduo Township, Wanba Township, and Hongba Township.

　　I. Varieties

　　Dahongpao, Tuanzhuang Youjiao, Sanzhuang Youjiao.

　　II. Site Conditions

　　Within the production area, the altitude ranges from 1,800m to 2,900m. The soil types are cinnamon soil and brown soil, with sandy loam or medium loam texture. Soil pH value ranges from 6.5 to 8, and soil organic matter content is ≥2.0%.

　　III. Cultivation Management

　　1. Seedling Propagation: Seed propagation is used.

　　2. Planting: Autumn planting takes place from mid-to-late September to early October; spring planting occurs in late March. Planting density is 825 to 1,650 plants per hectare.

　　3. Management:

　　(1) Fertilization: Fertilize three times a year—during initial flowering in late March, fruit development in mid-May, and after harvest in mid-September. Apply 15 to 30 kg of well-rotted human-animal manure plus 0.2 kg of ammonium phosphate compound fertilizer per plant. Halve the amount for young trees.

　　(2) Hoeing and Weeding: Hoeing and weeding must be done three times a year, which can be combined with fertilization.

　　(3) Pest and Disease Control: Target diseases such as brown spot, rust, sooty mold, root rot, and pests like the cotton aphid, white peach scale, and black-horned longhorn beetle. Use a combination of biological control methods and pesticides that meet green food standards.

　　4. Environmental and Safety Requirements: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other substances must comply with national regulations, and environmental pollution must be avoided.

　　IV. Harvesting and Drying

　　The prickly ash harvesting season is from July to August. When the fruit skin turns entirely red, the oil glands are raised, the gloss is evident, and the berries are bright red with full oil content, they are ready for picking.

　　Freshly harvested prickly ash should first be spread in a cool, ventilated place for 2 to 3 days, then placed on trays or mats and sun-dried.

　　V. Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory Characteristics: Jiulong Prickly Ash is purplish-red with large, plump grains, intense numbing aroma, and a pure flavor. The thousand-grain weight of the dried fruit skin is 10g to 13g.

　　2. Physicochemical Indicators: Moisture content ≤9%, volatile oil content 6.5% to 9.0% (≥5.8% after one year of storage), amide compounds (numbing agents) 3.2% to 6.3%.

　　3. Safety and Other Quality Technical Requirements: Product safety and other quality technical requirements must comply with national regulations.