Hada Pu Angelica

Hada Pu Angelica

Hada Pu Angelica is a product with geographical indication status.

　　The cultivation area of Hada Pu Angelica is mainly located at the intersection of the Minshan Mountain Range and the Western Qinling Mountains in the northern part of Dongxiang County. This region includes thirteen towns such as Hada Pu Town, covering a planting area of 9.2 mu and yielding 23,000 tons. The history of Hada Pu Angelica cultivation dates back a very long time. In the second year of Zhengshi during the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty (505 AD), the heir to the throne of the Dengchang Kingdom, Liang Mibo, was officially appointed as the King of Dengchang by the Northern Wei Dynasty. That same year, Liang Mibo presented licorice and angelica to the Southern Liang Dynasty — this marks the earliest documented reference to Hada Pu Angelica in historical records. China’s earliest surviving pharmacopoeias, such as the “Shennong Bencao Jing” (The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica), the “Han Dynasty Medical Slips,” the “Juyan Han Slips,” and the “Dunhuang Han Slips,” all contain references to angelica from Dengchang. Tang Dynasty scholar Su Jing, in his work “Xinxiu Bencao” (Newly Revised Materia Medica), wrote: “Angelica nowadays comes from Dangzhou, but that from Dengzhou is the best — rich in flesh, sparse in stems, and fragrant.” Hada Pu Angelica has a long production history, substantial yield, high quality, and has gained widespread favor among merchants both domestically and internationally. As the main production area for angelica, Dongxiang County cultivates it across all 31 towns and townships, with Hada Pu and Lichuan offering the most suitable conditions for cultivating Minxian Angelica (also known as ‘Mingui’), making them ideal growing regions. Our county has prioritized promoting standardized production of medicinal herbs as a key measure to improve their quality and economic returns. In line with the goal of building 'green, authentic' herb-source bases, we have strengthened cooperation with research institutions and pharmaceutical companies. By adopting a model where 'the government provides planning and guidance, companies (and academic institutions) collaborate to build bases, technical personnel offer follow-up services, village and township authorities ensure implementation, and the county government provides appropriate subsidies,' we have actively carried out farmer training in agricultural technology. We strictly adhere to standardized planting techniques for medicinal herbs, promote and popularize key technologies, and accelerate the development of standardized medicinal herb planting bases, effectively raising the overall standard of standardized planting in the county. In 2014, the total area of medicinal herbs planted in the county reached 400,000 mu, including 72,000 mu of angelica. The angelica industry has become the most distinctive and promising pillar industry in Dongxiang County, playing an important role in accelerating industrial restructuring and increasing farmers’ incomes. Its promising development prospects have drawn widespread attention from society.

　　Geographical Scope

　　It is mainly located at the intersection of the Minshan Mountain Range and the Western Qinling Mountains in the northern part of Dongxiang County. It lies between longitude 104°01′–104°48′ and latitude 33°46′–34°23′, at an altitude of 2,000–3,000 meters. The terrain gradually rises from east to west, bordered by Li County to the east, Linjiang in Dongxiang County to the south, and encircled by Min County to the northwest. The area includes thirteen towns and townships: Hada Pu Town, Awu Township, Lichuan Town, Bali Township, Pangjia Township, Nanhe Township, Hejiabao Township, Muer Township, Xinghua Township, Chela Township, Jiangtai Township, Jiahe Township, and Chengguan Town, encompassing 176 administrative villages. The total area is 1,456.1 square kilometers, with 6,000 hectares dedicated to angelica cultivation, yielding 22,500 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Hada Pu Angelica roots are fleshy and conical in shape, with a well-formed and aesthetically pleasing structure. The head of the root is thick and large, the body is long, plump, and robust, with few and evenly distributed lateral roots. The cross-section of fresh root is off-white, while the dried root features duct tissues arranged in a chrysanthemum-like pattern, appearing light yellow in color. The pith is small, oil droplets are prominent, the cortex is thin, the texture is fine, dense, and compact, leaving no residue when chewed and exuding a strong, rich aroma. The body of the root measures between 20–35 cm in length, the head 5–8 cm, with an average single plant weight of over 150 g. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Hada Pu Angelica is rich in trace elements and amino acids, containing zinc ≥21 mg/kg, iron ≥300 mg/kg, calcium ≥2.5 mg/kg, manganese ≥13 mg/kg, phosphorus ≥5 mg/kg, and magnesium ≥1.5 mg/kg. 3. Safety Requirements: The production of Hada Pu Angelica strictly follows the requirements of “NY5318-2006 Pollution-Free Food – Ginseng and Related Products.” Agricultural inputs and field substances are used appropriately according to the “Standardized Production Technical Regulations for Hada Pu Angelica in Longnan City.” The use of highly toxic pesticides banned by the state is strictly prohibited, as is the use of plant growth hormones. Pesticide safety intervals are strictly enforced, and products may only be sold after passing pesticide residue inspections.