Shenchi Black Beans

Shenchi Black Beans

Shenchi Black Beans are a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Shenchi Black Beans are produced in Shenchi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, and have a long history of cultivation. Historical records indicate that black beans were the main crop used for public grain contributions in Shenchi County, with an annual yield of around 100,000 jin. According to the *Shenchi County Annals*, the planting area of Shenchi Black Beans was 28,830 mu in 1975, 16,282 mu in 1980, 50,675 mu in 1985, and now remains above 50,000 mu annually. Shenchi tofu is famous far and wide, known for its rich bean aroma and ability to stay tender even after prolonged cooking. It is an indispensable dish on the tables of Shenchi locals every day, and Shenchi Black Beans are its main ingredient. A local saying goes, “The people of Shenchi cannot go a day without beans.” Another unique use of Shenchi Black Beans is in brewing old black sauce, which almost every household makes themselves. There are also black bean sprouts, which newlyweds scatter on their wedding car and in the bride’s dowry as a symbol of taking root, sprouting, and thriving. The people of Shenchi also have the custom of stir-frying black beans during the Winter Solstice to “bite away illnesses.” In 2003, Shenchi County was designated by the Shanxi Provincial Government as a key county for high-quality minor grain production.

　　Shenchi Black Beans are a specialty of Shenchi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. As a long-established and renowned local specialty, Shenchi Black Beans not only boast high nutritional value but also offer excellent health benefits, making them a sought-after product in both domestic and international markets. Shenchi Black Beans are a protected product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Shenchi County is located between 111°42′–112°18′ east longitude and 38°56′–39°24′ north latitude, in the northwest of Shanxi Province. It borders Shuozhou to the east, Ningwu to the south, Wuzhai to the west, Pianguan to the northwest, and Pinglu to the northeast. Tailored to its local conditions, Shenchi focuses on ecological, efficient, and exemplary agricultural development while promoting its characteristic agriculture strategy. It actively adjusts its agricultural industrial structure, improves agricultural productivity, and vigorously advances the development of modern agriculture. In 2012, the planting area of black beans in Shenchi County reached 61,800 mu.

　　In 2013, the “Shenchi Black Beans” application submitted by the Shenchi County Agricultural Technology Extension Center in Shanxi Province passed expert evaluation and became a protected product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Shenchi County is situated on the Loess Plateau in northwestern Shanxi, at the northwest foot of the Guancen Mountains. It borders Shuozhou City to the east, Wuzhai County to the west, is separated from the Guancen Mountains by Ningwu to the south, and is bordered by Hongtao Mountain along the boundaries of Pianguan County and Pinglu District to the north. Its geographical coordinates are 111°42′–112°18′ east longitude and 38°56′–39°24′ north latitude, covering a county area of 1,472 square kilometers. The protected geographical indication area for Shenchi Black Beans includes 10 towns and 241 administrative villages within Shenchi County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province: Longquan Town, Yijing Town, Bajiao Town, Donghu Township, Taipingzhuang Township, Hubei Township, Hezhi Township, Liebao Township, Changzhen Township, and Dayanbei Township. In recent years, the annual planting area of black beans has remained above 3,300 hectares, with an annual total output of 8,000–10,000 tons.

　　Product Quality and Characteristic Features

　　External Quality: Shenchi Black Beans are large and plump, with an oval or nearly spherical shape. They have a shiny black color and yellow-green cotyledons. Internal Quality: Shenchi Black Beans contain up to 38–42g/100g of protein, 4–5g/100g of essential linoleic acid, and 0.8–1.0g/100g of linolenic acid. They include 18 types of amino acids, especially the 8 essential ones, with lysine content reaching 2–3g/100g. Each 100g of black bean powder contains 79.5–83.2mg of soy isoflavones, 20.1–25.9mg of vitamin E, 158–187mg of calcium, and 548–598mg of phosphorus. They also provide essential vitamins B1, B2, C, niacin, and abundant trace elements such as zinc, copper, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, and fluorine. The black bean skin contains anthocyanins, which are excellent antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals in the body. Quality and Safety Standards: Compliant with the indicators for soybeans in the *Notice of the Office of the Ministry of Agriculture on Issuing the Testing Catalogue for 37 Types of Pollution-Free Agricultural Products Including Solanaceous Vegetables* (Nongban Zhi [2012] No. 8), the *Industry Standard of the People’s Republic of China for Pollution-Free Foods – Soybeans NY 5310-2005*, as well as relevant standards and requirements such as the *GB4285 Pesticide Safe Use Guidelines* and *GB/T8321 Guidelines for the Rational Use of Pesticides*.