Yanchi Flaxseed

Yanchi Flaxseed

Yanchi Flaxseed is a product with geographical indication status for agricultural goods.

　　Flaxseed has been hailed since ancient times as the "food of immortals," with many beautiful legends and praises. Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Ming of Han, two men from Tancheng County, Zhejiang—Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao—got lost while gathering medicinal herbs on Tiantai Mountain. They encountered two fairy maidens who invited them to their home and served them meals made with flaxseed. As a result, the two men became rejuvenated, attained enlightenment, and became immortal. Half a year later, when they returned to their hometown, everything had changed beyond recognition, and their descendants had grown to seven generations. The phrase “a single meal of flaxseed spans several springs” has become a celebrated tale passed down through the ages. Of course, this is just a legend, but flaxseed indeed offers significant health benefits, and its role in promoting fitness and longevity should not be underestimated. Historical records indicate that in 119 BC, Emperor Wu of Han sent Zhang Qian as an envoy on his second mission to the Western Regions, where he introduced flaxseed. It was initially planted in areas such as Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, and gradually spread to regions including Ningxia.

　　Region: Ningxia

　　Applicant: Yanchi County Huizhong Small Grain Industry Professional Cooperative

　　Year of designation: 2013

　　Geographical Scope

　　The protected geographical indication area for Yanchi Flaxseed includes three townships in Yanchi County: Hui’anpu Town, Mahuangshan Township, and Dashuikeng Township. The designated region lies between longitude 106°33′–107°47′ and latitude 37°04′–38°10′. The total planting area of the region is 1,000 hectares, with an annual yield of around 900 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Flaxseeds are similar in size to sesame seeds, flat and oval-shaped, with one end bluntly round and the other slightly pointed. They are about 4–6 mm long and 2–3 mm wide, with a shiny yellowish-brown color. They can be eaten raw, and when chewed thoroughly, leave a lingering fragrance. Roasted flaxseeds can be pressed into flaxseed oil, which has a golden-yellowish-brown color and a faint, fragrant aroma. 2. Internal Quality Characteristics: Yanchi Flaxseed Oil contains 403.5–406.6 mg/kg of vitamin E, 16.5–18.0 g/100g of oleic acid, 16.8–17.8 g/100g of linoleic acid, 60.3–62.8 g/100g of alpha-linolenic acid, and 0.08–0.11 g/100g of erucic acid. 3. Safety Requirements: The production environment meets the standards of the “Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Safety Quality — Environmental Conditions for the Production of Pollution-Free Small Grains” (NY5010-2002). ① Phosphides, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen compounds, and carbon disulfide are tested in accordance with GB/T5009.36. ② Aflatoxin B1 is tested in accordance with GB/T5009.22. ③ Mercury is tested in accordance with GB/T5009.11. ④ Arsenic is tested in accordance with GB/T5009.11. ⑤ Phospholipid content in vegetable oils is tested in accordance with NY/T1798-2009. ⑥ Oilseed processing accuracy is inspected in accordance with GB5502-85. ⑦ Sanitary standards follow GB2715-81 and GB2761-81. The air quality of the production area complies with the “Ambient Air Quality Standard” NY/T391-2000.