Yanchi Honey

Yanchi Honey

Yanchi Honey is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　As recorded in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms," it can be seen that honey was already a common beverage during the Han Dynasty. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Honey has five therapeutic functions: clearing heat, tonifying the middle, detoxifying, moistening dryness, and relieving pain. When raw, it is cool in nature, thus able to clear heat; when processed, it is warm in nature, thus able to tonify the middle; sweet and mild, thus able to detoxify; soft and moist, thus able to moisten dryness; gentle and soothing, thus able to relieve pain in the heart, abdomen, muscles, and sores; harmonizing and balancing, thus able to harmonize all medicines, having the same function as licorice." Honey is a sweet substance brewed from the secretions collected from the nectar glands of plant flowers and stored in beehives. It tastes sweet and has a neutral nature, with effects such as tonifying the middle and alleviating urgency, moistening the lungs and relieving cough, lubricating the intestines and relieving dryness, and detoxifying. It has a long history of use in human healthcare and has been highly regarded in various eras, giving rise to a rich beekeeping culture.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yanchi County is located in the eastern part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in the transitional zone from the Ordos Plateau to the Loess Plateau, between 106°33′ and 107°47′ east longitude and 37°04′ and 38°10′ north latitude, with an average altitude of 1,600 meters. It stretches approximately 66 kilometers from east to west and about 110 kilometers from north to south. It borders Dingbian County of Shaanxi Province to the east, Huan County of Gansu Province to the south, Otog Front Banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north, and Lingwu and Tongxin cities (counties) of the region to the west, covering a total area of 8,661.3 square kilometers. The production area of Yanchi Honey covers eight townships within Yanchi County (Huamachi Town, Dashuikeng Town, Hui'Anbao Town, Gaosawo Town, Fengjigou Township, Qingshan Township, Wanglejing Township, and Mahuangshan Township), spanning an area of 100,000 hectares.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: In appearance: the honey is light amber in color, thick in consistency, aromatic in scent, and turns milky white after crystallization. 2. Internal Quality Characteristics: Due to the uniqueness of its nectar source, Yanchi Honey has a pure taste, fragrant aroma, and sweetness, with a slight molasses flavor and a smooth mouthfeel. It has the effect of moistening dryness and promoting bowel movements. Its main component is sugar, with a total sugar content of 60%–80%, and it also contains small amounts of vitamin B. Yanchi Honey is a nutrient-rich natural nourishing food and one of the most commonly used tonic products. 3. Safety Requirements: The production environment strictly adheres to the standards of the "Technical Specifications for the Production Environment of Pollution-Free Field Crops" (NY332-2006). ① Phosphides, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogenous bitter substances, and carbon disulfide shall comply with the relevant provisions of GB/T5009.36. ② Aflatoxin B1 shall comply with the relevant provisions of GB/T5009.22. ③ Mercury shall comply with the provisions of GB/T5009.11. ④ Arsenic shall comply with the provisions of GB/T5009.11. ⑤ Hygiene standards shall follow the national standard GB14963-2011 issued by the Ministry of Health.