Maogong Rice

Maogong Rice

Maogong Rice is a product protected under China’s Geographical Indications system.

　　Meitan County in Guizhou Province is one of the national commodity grain base counties. Meitan Maoba rice gained widespread fame during the Ming Jiaqing era when it was presented as tribute to the imperial court, hence earning the name “Maogong Rice.” This premium rice boasts a bright sheen, plump and translucent grains, and produces milky, rich cooking broth. When cooked, the grains are glossy, sticky, and moist, with a natural fragrance, soft yet elastic texture, and a lingering sweet aftertaste—making it a fine rice delicacy. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, when Zhejiang University relocated to Meitan, the university’s then-president Zhu Kezhen spoke highly of it, calling it a “treasure of Qianzhong.”

　　In 2001, Maogong Rice obtained green food certification from the China Green Food Development Center; in 2002, the Zhujiang brand Pearl Nutrition Rice was recognized by the Food Professional Committee of the China Technical Supervision Information Association as a “China Market Reassuring Healthy Food”; in October 2003, the Zhujiang brand Premium Fragrant Rice, Pearl Nutrition Rice, and Selenium-Zinc Rice were honored with the title of “Famous Agricultural Products at the First Guizhou Famous, Special, and High-quality Agricultural Products Trade Fair”; at the 2003 China (Huai’an) High-quality Rice Expo and Trade Fair, the “Zhujiang” brand “Premium Fragrant” high-quality rice won the “China Top Ten High-quality Refined Rice Gold Award” with the highest score. In December 2010, after review by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China, it was decided to implement national geographical indications product protection for Maogong Rice.

　　Production Area Scope

　　　　The protected geographical indication production area of Maogong Rice includes the administrative regions of eight townships in Meitan County, Guizhou Province: Yongxing Town, Meijiang Town, Fuxing Town, Xima Township, Huangjiaba Town, Chao Le Township, Xinglong Town, and Tiancheng Township.