Chuxiong Boletus

Chuxiong Boletus

Chuxiong Boletus is a protected product under China’s geographical indication system.

　　Chuxiong Boletus

　　It is named for its thick, fleshy texture that resembles beef liver. The mushroom has a delicious taste and fragrant aroma, making it a favorite among wild mushroom enthusiasts. Rich in various vitamins, it enjoys great popularity in international markets. Aside from exporting fresh boletus, mountain residents also slice and dry the fresh mushrooms before supplying them in large quantities to foreign trade agencies.

　　Within Chuxiong City, Yunnan Province, there is a wide variety of wild mushrooms, distributed across a broad area with substantial yields. The mushroom-producing regions cover 44.5% of the city's total land area, with wild mushrooms growing in 78.1% of its forested zones. There are over 670 species of wild mushrooms, around 300 of which are edible or medicinal — accounting for more than half of the world’s edible wild mushroom varieties and 60% of China’s. This makes Chuxiong one of the richest regions in wild mushroom resources in both Yunnan Province and the whole country. Among them, Chuxiong Boletus is especially beloved by consumers for its distinct coloration, thick caps, tender and firm flesh, richly sweet and savory flavor, smooth and moist texture, high nutritional value, and its characteristic of being high in potassium yet low in sodium.

　　As a major production and processing hub for Yunnan’s wild mushrooms, the Chuxiong Prefecture and municipal governments place great importance on the protection of wild mushroom biodiversity and the development of the processing and trade industry. Guided by the principles of ecology, conservation, utilization, and development, they are committed to building Chuxiong’s reputation as the “Hometown of Boletus.” They closely integrate the processing and trading of wild mushrooms with tourism development, poverty alleviation efforts, and the promotion of green industries, while also strengthening the cultivation, protection, and development of the wild mushroom industry. By the end of 2015, the city was home to over 80 enterprises engaged in the acquisition, processing, and sales of wild edible mushrooms. These include 1 national high-tech enterprise, 4 provincial-level leading companies, and 3 export-oriented businesses. Their products are well received in markets such as Japan and Europe, playing a significant role in export earnings. In 2015 alone, the annual collection of wild mushrooms reached 2,723.35 tons, generating a collection output value of 145 million yuan and a processing and sales output value of 345 million yuan.

　　The origin of Chuxiong Boletus is limited to the current administrative region of Chuxiong City, Yunnan Province.