Congjiang Fragrant Glutinous Rice

Congjiang Fragrant Glutinous Rice

　　The "he" varieties are traditional rice cultivars unique to Congjiang with a long history of cultivation. The complex and diverse ecological environment of Congjiang has given rise to a rich array of "he" varieties. According to survey data, there are 261 recorded varieties. The "he" varieties are predominantly glutinous rice, characterized by late maturity, tall stalks, large leaves, big panicles, awns, a variety of colors, and strong adaptability to cold, shady, waterlogged, and rust-infested fields, as well as resistance to shattering and a longer dormancy period.

　　 Congjiang has long been known as the "Home of Glutinous Rice." Among the "he" varieties, fragrant rice has a long planting history dating back to the early Ming Dynasty. Congjiang fragrant rice is of high quality and rich in nutrients. Its grains are soft and sticky, oily but not greasy, highly aromatic, delicious, and not cloying—earning the praise: “A single mu of rice blossoms fills a ten-mile radius with fragrance; steaming it in one household perfumes ten households.” Fragrant rice has been listed among Guizhou Province’s renowned specialty grain crops. There are 29 varieties in the fragrant rice series, including White-Hairy Fragrant Rice, Big Fragrant Rice, and Fine Fragrant Rice.

　　 In particular, fragrant rice has been designated as one of Guizhou Province’s traditional, renowned, and high-quality grain crop varieties, and has been a key focus of development as a local specialty high-quality rice in Congjiang County in recent years. The "he" varieties are distributed across all 21 townships in the county, with the majority of fragrant rice cultivated at elevations above 500 meters in ecologically cool, moist, and densely forested areas—primarily in cold, shady, waterlogged, and rust-infested fields. Key production regions include the Xiao0 Area in Gaizeng Township, the Dudong Area in Luoxiang Township, the Gaocen Area in Xiajiang Township, and the Gaomang Area in Cuili Township. Among these, the Xiaohuang fragrant rice stands out for its distinctive flavor, superior quality, and best taste.