Lily Tribute Powder

Lily Tribute Powder

　　Lily Tribute Powder

　　Lily is the raw material used to make lily powder. Lily is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Liliaceae family. Its roots can be used medicinally and are edible, while its flowers are ornamental. Lilies thrive in high mountain valleys, cold and damp areas, within subtropical monsoon humid climates, as well as in high-altitude dense forests or shrublands. The stems of the lily grow to about one meter tall, are unbranched, and the flowers are white or orange in color, trumpet-shaped, and grow at the top of the stem. The roots of the lily are buried in the soil, generally more than 20 cm below the surface. The roots are bulbous with scales, have some fibrous roots, and the larger bulbs have a diameter of over 10 cm, typically around 7–8 cm. The bulb scales are snow-white, thick-fleshed, crisp, and rich in starch. When torn, they feel smooth, with juice oozing out and visible coarse fibers. Lily powder is made from processing these lily roots.

　　Lily powder is a specialty product of the mountainous region. Historical records indicate that it was listed as a tribute as early as the 17th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty. Folklore tells that when the Ming Emperor Jianwen fled to Guizhou and passed through Yuanshan in Guiding, he was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. He saw an ethnic Miao person preparing lily powder to eat, asked to try some, and after tasting it, praised its sweet and delicious flavor. He remarked that if he ever regained power, he would support this special product. Later, during the Qing Dynasty, Zhang Guangsi, the governor of Guizhou, presented lily powder to Emperor Yongzheng, further enhancing the fame of Lily Tribute Powder.

　　Lily powder has various health benefits such as clearing heat, moistening the lungs, relieving coughs, aiding digestion, calming the mind, and beautifying the skin. The lily powder processed at Changshan Town Market in Yuanshan was originally produced and sold locally, gaining fame far and wide. Merchants from both inside and outside the province came to seek it out, leading to dozens of businesses engaging in its processing and sale, gradually forming a sizable industry. In the 1980s, forward-thinking individuals established the Yuanshan Lily Tribute Powder Factory (a private enterprise), producing “Qingxin” (Pure Heart) brand Lily Tribute Powder. The factory produced over 10 tons of lily powder annually, maintaining steady and strong sales. In 1997, lily cultivation and processing were included in the National Agricultural Comprehensive Development Project. Currently, there are nearly 4,000 acres of lily planting bases, yielding 1,500 tons of fresh lilies per year. The processing site is located beside National Highway 210, in a beautiful environment with ample space. The advanced production line and processing equipment are designed to produce 200 tons of lily powder annually. In August 1998, the production line integrating traditional craftsmanship with modern technology was successfully launched.

　　From its launch until June 1999, the “Qingxin” brand Yuanshan Lily Tribute Powder was showcased at the World Agricultural Expo in Italy, agricultural expos in Guangzhou and Shijiazhuang, as well as the Kunming World Expo, winning widespread acclaim from people both domestically and internationally.

　　From its launch until June 1999, the "Qingxin" Brand Mountain-Grown Lily Tribute Powder was showcased at the World Agricultural Expo in Italy, the agricultural expos in Guangzhou and Shijiazhuang, as well as the Kunming World Expo, where it gained widespread popularity among both domestic and international visitors.