Yingjiang Cardamom

Yingjiang Cardamom

　　Yingjiang cardamom is a specialty of Yingjiang County in Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Cardamom is a traditional industry in Yingjiang County, and currently, Yingjiang cardamom products are mainly sold in dried form.

　　Yingjiang County has a subtropical climate and abundant land resources suitable for cardamom cultivation. In the early 1970s, technicians introduced it from the main cardamom-producing areas within the province. After successful trial planting in mountainous towns such as Tongbiguan, Kachang, and Sudian, it began to be promoted for cultivation in suitable areas across the county. By 2011, the total planted area of cardamom in the county had reached over 120,000 mu. In 2010, the cultivated area in production was over 30,000 mu, yielding 23,095 tons of fresh fruit and 4,619.1 tons of dried fruit, generating an agricultural output value of 176 million yuan.

　　Cardamom contains volatile oils and has a strong pungent aroma. It is used in cooking to eliminate fishy and gamey odors and enhance the flavor of dishes. Medically, cardamom helps dry dampness, dispel cold, improve digestion, relieve stagnation, and remove phlegm. It can be used to treat symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery. It serves as a raw material in the food, spice, and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, Yingjiang cardamom products are mainly sold in dried form.