Yumen Hops

Yumen Hops

Yumen hops are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Yumen hops refer to hop products made from freshly harvested flowers cultivated in the geographical region of Yumen–Jiuquan, Gansu Province, following the DB62/T1177-20

　　.04 "Green Food Hops Cultivation Technical Regulations." These hops boast a richer aroma and a fresh yellow-green hue. Their quality surpasses that of products from other regions in China. The main product categories include compressed hops, pelletized hops, and further processed hop extracts.

　　Historical Background

　　　　China is one of the native origins of wild hops, which are mainly distributed across four provinces and regions: Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, and Yunnan. Yumen is among them. The artificial cultivation of hops in China began as early as 1921 at the Yianpo Hop Farm in Heilongjiang. Between 1921 and 1949, hop cultivation in China was limited to experimental stages. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the beer industry entered a period of growth, and hops—the soul of beer—also began to be cultivated on a larger scale.

　　From 1981 to 1990, the former Ministry of Light Industry designated the northwest as a key development area for hops. Planting areas in Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia grew rapidly, while those in the northeast, Shandong, and Anhui gradually shrank. Hops in Gansu began to rise. By 1990, the hop planting area in Gansu reached 15,200 mu, with a yield of 3,409 tons, second only to Xinjiang. The total hop planting area in China reached 66,400 mu, with a production of 10,174 tons.

　　From 1991 to 2006, during the period of development and adjustment, as the market economy deepened, domestic hop cultivation adjusted according to market demand. Planting areas were modified accordingly. Hops production in Ningxia and Inner Mongolia declined, leaving Xinjiang and Gansu as the two major players. In 2005, Gansu surpassed Xinjiang in hop planting area, ranking first in China. By 2006, the national hop planting area was 62,000 mu, with a production of 11,000 tons. Gansu alone had 37,000 mu under cultivation, yielding 5,800 tons. Over these 15 years, domestic hop processing methods evolved from compressed hops to pelletized hops, and then to hop extracts and further processed products.

　　Production Situation

　　　　From 1980 to 2006, based on changes in domestic hop planting area and yield, Gansu has consistently shown an upward trend, whereas Xinjiang has seen a continuous decline in both area and yield since 1994. By 2005, Gansu completely surpassed Xinjiang. In 2006, the national hop planting area was 62,000 mu, with a production of 10,200 tons. Within the Yumen–Jiuquan geographical region, the production of compressed hops was 4,000 tons, pelletized hops 3,800 tons, and hop extracts 30 tons. Yumen accounted for 28% of the area and 30% of the yield. In 2006, the regional output value reached 95 million yuan from pellets and 12 million yuan from extracts, totaling 107 million yuan. Among the ten hop-growing regions in Gansu and Xinjiang, the Yumen–Jiuquan area has the highest concentration of hop cultivation. Therefore, hops are a signature and distinctive cash crop in the Yumen–Jiuquan geographical region.

　　In 2009, within the Yumen–Jiuquan hop-growing region, a 30,000-mu hop planting base had been established, yielding 3,800 tons of hops annually. There were 18 compressed hop processing plants and 7 pellet processing plants with a combined processing capacity of 14,000 tons. The region also hosts the only specialized hop extract deep-processing enterprise in China—Yumen Tuopu Technology Development Co., Ltd.—with a total processing capacity of 3,000 tons. The area features comprehensive hop processing methods and a closely integrated industrial chain, gradually leading the way toward grouped and industrialized development in China. Yumen hops are primarily sold to large domestic breweries such as Tsingtao, Yanjing, and China Resources, as well as medium and small-sized breweries, with sales covering all parts of China. Additionally, they are exported to markets in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, with 500 tons of hops exported between 2005 and 2006.

　　Quality Characteristics

　　　　The compressed hops, pelletized hops, and hop extract products covered under the Yumen hops geographical indication meet the requirements of various product types specified in the national standard GB/T20369-2006 "Hops Products." In terms of physicochemical properties, the Qingdao Large Leaf variety of Yumen hops maintains a balanced content of alpha acids and beta acids, with an alpha/beta ratio between 1.1 and 1.5. For sensory attributes, Yumen hops offer a richer aroma and a fresh yellow-green color—distinctive characteristics that set them apart from hops produced in other regions.

　　Protected Area

　　　　The protected geographical indication area for Yumen hops includes nine towns and townships in Yumen City, Gansu Province: Yumen Town, Xiaxia Township, Huangshawan Township, Liuhe Township, Chijin Town, Huahai Town, Qingquan Township, Xiaojinwan Township, and Luhu Township, as well as the administrative regions of four state farms: Yinma Industrial Company, Huanghua Farm, Yusheng Industrial Company, and Nongken Construction Company.