Spirulina from Chenghai Lake

Spirulina from Chenghai Lake

Spirulina from Chenghai Lake is a protected geographical indication product.

　　　 A microscopic, invisible plant that floats on the surface of Chenghai Lake in Yongsheng. Under a microscope, it appears bluish-green, non-branching, and filamentous, resembling a coiled spring—hence the name "spirulina."

　　　　 Chenghai Lake in Yongsheng, Yunnan is currently one of the world’s three major freshwater lakes where spirulina grows naturally, following Lake Chad in Central Africa and Lake Texcoco in Mexico.

　　　　 Spirulina is currently the most nutrient-rich and balanced organism known to humans. Scientific testing shows that 1 gram of spirulina powder contains as much nutrition as 1,000 grams of various fruits and vegetables combined. Spirulina has a protein content as high as 65%–71%, and its amino acid profile is similar to human blood proteins, making it highly absorbable. It is also rich in vitamins, trace elements, algal polysaccharides, phycocyanin, linolenic acid, insulin-like substances, and other bioactive compounds. Spirulina offers multiple medicinal and health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, detoxifying the kidneys, enhancing immune function, promoting prostaglandin synthesis, inhibiting and preventing cancer, and accelerating wound healing. It serves as an ideal, low-toxicity, and highly effective dietary supplement and health food for conditions such as chemotherapy, anemia, hepatitis, diabetes, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and bone marrow disorders.

　　　　 Currently, the region has built the world’s largest spirulina production base, including the Chenghai “Shipurui Group” with an annual production capacity of 500 tons of spirulina powder. Manufacturers such as Lijiang Chenghai Spirulina Bio-Food Factory produce spirulina tablets, capsules, and beverages that have won gold awards at the Korea International Food Expo. Their products remain consistently popular in the market.

　　 The protected geographical indication area for Chenghai Spirulina is based on the scope defined in the “Approval on the Request for Issuing the Document and Range Map for the Protected Geographical Indication Area of Chenghai Spirulina” (Yong Zheng Bao [2005] No. 64) issued by Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province. This includes the current administrative regions of Chenghai Town and Yongbei Town in Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province.