Kuqa Medicinal Mulberry

Kuqa Medicinal Mulberry

Kuqa Medicinal Mulberry is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Kuqa County in the Aksu region of southern Xinjiang is home to China’s largest area of medicinal mulberry trees, with an estimated over 100,000 such trees.

　　Medicinal mulberries are found throughout various townships in Kuqa County, including Yaha Township, Wuzun Township (Wuzong Township), Wuqia Township, Yishihala Township, Yuqusitang Township, Bixibage Township, Qiman Township, Akewusitang Township, Hanikatamu Township, Tarim Township, Alahage Township, Dunkutan Township, and Age Township. However, they are most densely concentrated along National Highway 314 in Yaha, Wuzun, Wuqia, Yishihala, Bixibage, and Qiman Townships.

　　Medicinal mulberries are distributed all over Kuqa County. To develop the specialty fruit industry, the Kuqa County Party Committee began promoting the cultivation of medicinal mulberries as early as 1998. Large-scale grafting started between 2001 and 2002, so currently most grafted trees are between 3 to 5 years old. Mature grafted trees that are 40–50 years old can yield 100–200 kilograms of fruit, 10-year-old trees yield about 20 kilograms, and 5–6-year-old trees yield 1–5 kilograms.

　　Currently, two companies in Kuqa County, Xinjiang—Kuqa Qiuci Wine Industry Co., Ltd. and Xinjiang Tunhe Aksu Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. (Kuqa Branch)—produce canned medicinal mulberry fruits and medicinal mulberry wine.

　　Nowadays, the Aksu fruit industry has selected its “Eight Famous Actresses.”