River City Shellac

River City Shellac

　　Shellac, also known as lac, is a natural animal resin secreted by lac insects that parasitize host plants. It is called shellac due to its purplish-red color and also referred to as lac because it is secreted by lac insects. After harvesting, shellac is processed into seedlac or buttonlac, and is widely used in industries such as national defense, electrical, plastics, paints, medicine, and food. During processing, the byproduct shellac pigment is extracted, which is a natural food-grade red dye used in the production of candies, beverages, pastries, meats, cosmetics, and more. It offers advantages such as bright color and being harmless to human health, making it superior to chemically synthesized dyes. As a result, it is highly favored and widely adopted.

Yunnan Province is China's main shellac-producing region. Thanks to its abundant and high-quality host tree species, Yunnan enjoys uniquely favorable conditions for shellac production, yielding the highest annual output nationwide with excellent quality, and is sold across the country. Both shellac and shellac pigment are available for export.