Raw lacquer

Raw lacquer

　　Raw lacquer, commonly known as “tuli,” is one of the flagship local specialty products of the Shangluo region. Shangluo is abundant in lacquer trees, which belong to the Anacardiaceae family and are deciduous trees. The sap of the lacquer tree is the precious raw lacquer; the seeds can be pressed to produce valuable lacquer oil; the bark can be used to make tannin; the wood is moderately hard and soft with beautiful grain, making it an excellent construction material; dried lacquer, lacquer leaves, and lacquer flowers can all be used medicinally. Therefore, the lacquer tree is a highly versatile economic plant that is valuable in every part, earning it the title of “national treasure.”

　　Shangluo City is located at the center of China’s lacquer tree distribution area and has a long history of raw lacquer production, hence it is known as the “hometown of lacquer.” Since the lacquer tree is a uniquely advantageous and major forest specialty product in the Shangluo region—characterized by low investment, easy management, minimal harvesting difficulty, and long-term benefits—it is hailed as the “ironclad money tree.”