Zunyi Chaotian Chili

Zunyi Chaotian Chili

Zunyi Chaotian Chili is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Geographic Scope

　　　Nanbai Town, Longkeng Town, Sancha Town, Goujiang Town, Sanhe Town, Wujiang Town, Xiazhi Town, Sandu Town, Xinzhou Town, Yongle Town, Longping Town, Laba Town, Tuanxi Town, Tiechang Town, Xiping Town, Shangqi Town, Maoli Town, Xinmin Town, Yaxi Town, Shibang Town, Leshan Town, Fengxiang Town, Panshui Town, Mati Town, Shawan Town, Songlin Town, Maoshi Town, Shanpen Town, Zhima Town, Pingzheng Gelao Ethnic Township, Hongguan Miao Ethnic Township in Zunyi County, Guizhou Province

　　Unique Qualities

　　　　Zunyi Chaotian Chili, also known as Zunyi Small Chili or Xiazhi Chaotian Small Chili (named after the Xiazhi Chili Market), is bright red and glossy when mature, with an attractive shape, thick and tender flesh, moderate spiciness, and a rich aroma. Depending on the variety, it may appear conical, finger-like, cherry-shaped, or bullet-shaped, growing singly or in clusters, all facing upward. Zunyi Small Chili is highly nutritious, with fresh chilies containing up to 198 milligrams of vitamin C per gram—ranking among the highest of China’s many chili varieties. Its carotene content is second only to that of carrots. According to Yao Kecheng’s *Food Herbs*, it has medicinal properties such as “aiding digestion, relieving indigestion, stimulating appetite, warding off evil, and neutralizing fishy and toxic odors.” Modern medicine also confirms that the capsaicin in chili peppers can indeed enhance appetite, aid digestion, stimulate the nervous system, provide warmth, improve blood circulation, and act as an insecticide and detoxifier.

　　Cultural Anecdotes

　　　　Chili peppers, originally from the subtropical regions of Central and South America, are also known as fanjiao, hajiao, lazi, or laqie. They belong to the genus *Capsicum* of the nightshade family and were introduced to China’s coastal regions via Europe and the Philippines around the late Ming Dynasty. Cultivation began in our county in the early Qing Dynasty and has a history of over 300 years. The *Dongzhi Gazetteer of Zunyi Prefecture* from the Daoguang era records: “Fanjiao grows in clusters... Locals commonly call it hajiao, also known as lajiao. It is an essential garden vegetable, indispensable in every dish. When preserved in salt and wine, it can be eaten year-round. There are several shapes: long and slender ones are called niujiao hajiao (ox-horn hajiao); thin, brush-tip-like ones that grow in clusters and point upward are called zuan (pronounced zhuan) jiao, which are particularly spicy. One type is flat and round, red or yellow in color, not very spicy, called shijiao (persimmon pepper).” This record first shows that by the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, the people of Zunyi could not do without chili peppers, and also indicates that multiple types of chilies were cultivated at the time. Through long-term natural selection and artificial cultivation, the “zuan jiao” mentioned evolved into “Zunyi Small Chili,” and because the fruits face upward, it became widely known as “Zunyi Chaotian Chili.” However, during the Qing and Republican periods, most chili farmers grew Zunyi Small Chili (Chaotian Chili) primarily for their own consumption, rarely selling it as a commodity. Large-scale commercial production began after the founding of New China, with exports to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Japan, and other countries starting in the late 1950s. In 1957, Zunyi County became the only county in the province to produce over ten thousand dan (a unit of weight) of chili annually, establishing a production base for export-quality small chilies (Chaotian Chili). From the mid-1970s onward, the county focused on diversified agriculture, and supply and marketing cooperatives actively helped farmers select superior seeds and promote advanced cultivation techniques. Zunyi Chaotian Chili became one of the flagship agricultural products of Zunyi County, with annual yields typically exceeding 2 million kilograms. At the same time, Zunyi Chaotian Chili gained a strong reputation in neighboring provinces, beloved by people in Sichuan and Hunan, and was widely sold in Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Shaanxi, and other provinces. From 1983 to 1988, supply and marketing cooperatives averaged an annual purchase of over 1.35 million kilograms of Chaotian Chili, reaching 1.98 million kilograms in 1978 and 1.89 million kilograms in 1988, making it the county’s second most important cash crop after rapeseed and flue-cured tobacco. Especially since 1998, the county party committee and government decided to accelerate adjustments in the rural industrial structure, prioritizing the chili industry as a key focus of agricultural industrialization. A dedicated body (the Chili Industry Office) was established to oversee sustained efforts. After several years of work, significant results were achieved, and an industrialized chili framework was successfully formed.