Qitai White Potatoes

Qitai White Potatoes

Qitai White Potatoes are a product with geographical indication status.

　　From the Tang Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty, both the Xinbei Route and the Northern Desert Route of the Silk Road passed through this area. Qitai was a vital passage from the Central Plains to Xinjiang, Central Asia, and Europe. As a result, Qitai became a key hub for goods transit. Numerous crops from abroad and the Central Plains flowed into Qitai, taking root and thriving here. Over time, through natural evolution and continuous cultivation by the local people, they came to embody the regional and cultural characteristics of Qitai. The cultivation of Qitai White Potatoes began in the mid-Qing Dynasty, around 300 years ago. According to county records, in the 20th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign (1755), Emperor Qianlong personally led a military campaign to suppress Galdan. On his way back to the capital, he passed through this area and noticed that the region north of the Tianshan Mountains not only had beautiful scenery but also fertile land and rich water resources. He ordered troops to be stationed here for farming, cultivating 10,000 mu (approximately 667 hectares) of land where wheat, highland barley, and potatoes were planted with great success. As the area under cultivation expanded, potatoes became one of the main crops grown in Qitai. Qitai has become a base for commercial potatoes and seed potatoes throughout the entire Xinjiang region. Every autumn, major organizations and enterprises across Xinjiang come to Qitai to purchase potatoes for winter storage. Qitai potatoes are snapped up as soon as they hit the market, accounting for 60–70% of the total demand in the region, making them the most sought-after agricultural product at the time. Qitai White Potatoes are high in starch content, with particularly high starch viscosity. Locals extract starch from the potatoes, then press it into noodles known as potato starch vermicelli, which are exported all over China and to neighboring countries. Dishes made with Qitai White Potato vermicelli are crystal clear, smooth, and tender, highly favored by consumers. Nicknamed the “Tianshan White Jade” and commonly referred to by locals as “Potato Babies,” Qitai potatoes are now widely exported to surrounding countries. The Qitai County Government has identified potatoes as an important channel for developing an outward-oriented economy and generating foreign exchange earnings.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Qitai County is located within the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The geographical indication protection area for Qitai White Potatoes includes six townships: Laoqitai Town, Jubuku Town, Biliuhe Township, Banjiagou Town, Dongwan Town, and Qihu Township. It borders the Tianshan Mountains to the south, encircles Sanzhuangzi Township, the 109th Regiment, the Tatar Township of Gucheng Township to the north, neighbors Mori County to the east, and connects with Jimusaer County to the west. The geographical coordinates are between 89°36′00″ to 90°00′00″ east longitude and 43°36′00″ to 43°92′00″ north latitude, at an altitude ranging from 970 to 1815 meters. The total area covers 56,333.3 hectares, with an annual yield of 400,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: Qitai White Potatoes are large in size, have shallow eyes, and smooth skin. The flesh of the tuber is white-skinned and white-fleshed, earning it the nickname “Tianshan White Jade.” Individual tubers typically weigh between 50–300g, with the largest reaching up to 1.5kg. They are commonly referred to by locals as “Potato Babies.” (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Qitai White Potatoes are highly nutritious, containing protein ≥1.6%, reduced ascorbic acid ≥9mg/100g, fat…<0.1g／100g。淀粉粘度高，这是用奇台白洋芋加工的淀粉和粉条在全国都是独一无二根本原因。 （3）符合《无公害食品 薯芋类》（NY 5221-2005）标准的安全要求。

　　V. Specific Production Methods