Ningqiang Walnuts

Ningqiang Walnuts

　　Ningqiang walnuts are a specialty of Ningqiang County in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province. The thin-shelled walnuts of Ningqiang are large in size, have a thin shell, smooth surface, shallow sutures, high kernel yield, and are easy to peel into whole, intact kernels. They are sweet and fragrant, rich in oil, making them an excellent tonic food.

　　The area north of Wuding Pass in Ningqiang County is abundant in walnut production and has a long history of walnut cultivation. The thin-shelled walnuts produced there are large in size, have a thin shell, smooth surface, shallow sutures, high kernel yield, and are easy to peel into whole, intact kernels. They are sweet and fragrant, rich in oil, free from bitterness, high in protein, and rich in elements such as vitamin C, iron, zinc, and calcium. These walnuts offer benefits such as replenishing qi and blood, improving vision and moistening the lungs, enhancing intelligence and strengthening the brain. They are an excellent tonic food. Walnuts are a food with extremely high nutritional value. In ancient times, people in China praised walnuts as the “longevity nut” and the “fruit of immortality.” Meng Shen, a renowned figure from the Tang Dynasty, stated that walnut kernels could “stimulate meridians and nourish blood vessels, making the skin and flesh delicate and glossy with regular consumption.” Li Shizhen, a medical scientist from the Ming Dynasty, claimed that walnuts have functions such as “nourishing qi and blood, moistening dryness and resolving phlegm, benefiting the life gate, regulating the three burners, warming the lungs and moistening the intestines.”