Wushi Chickpeas

Wushi Chickpeas

Wushi chickpeas are a product certified with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　There is a saying among the people: "Eating three coins’ worth of beans a day makes years of medicine unnecessary." Consuming legumes daily not only helps people stay away from illnesses but can also aid in the treatment of certain conditions. Among these, the "king of beans" — chickpeas — is one such example. Commonly known as peach beans, chicken beans, sheep-head beans, or Hui beans, chickpeas are called “Nuohuti” in Uyghur. They are the world’s third most important type of legume and are named for their unique shape, which resembles an eagle’s beak. With over 2,500 years of use in Uyghur medicine, they enjoy a high reputation and significant medicinal value. The chickpeas produced in Wushi County are rich in plant-based protein that is easily absorbed and digested, as well as crude fat, crude fiber, linoleic acid, vitamins, and essential nutrients like magnesium and calcium. These are pure natural health foods free from any additives, making them ideal for long-term consumption by those with high blood sugar, diabetes, and the elderly. They are a high-protein, low-starch, and completely natural food, hailed as the "flower of nutrition" and the "king of beans." Due to their superior quality, the product sells well both within and outside the region. In 2004, Wushi County was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Chickpeas" by the Organizing Committee for the Promotion and Publicity of China’s Specialty Products. At that time, the county’s 10,000-mu chickpea production base passed pollution-free testing and certification, with the certified product branded as “Nuohuti Brand Chickpeas.” In 2009, focusing on the chickpea planting base in Yakeli Township, the county completed chickpea cultivation on 0.58 million mu, achieving an average yield of 184.8 kg per mu and a total output of 1,070.7 tons. In 2010, the planned planting area for chickpeas in the county was 0.6 million mu. In the daily diet of the Uyghur people, meals typically consist of beef, mutton, dairy products, and high-sugar fruits. Despite such a diet high in fat, protein, and calories, very few locals suffer from diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. After investigation, the United Nations World Health Organization found that this is because their staple food — pilaf — is mixed with chickpeas, which play a key role in balancing nutrition and keeping them free from diabetes and "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood lipids). Additionally, locals enjoy not only remarkably long lifespans but also strong fertility, with men in their 70s and 80s still able to father children. This is linked to the high-energy compounds in chickpeas grown in this unique environment, which effectively replenish human energy. As a result, chickpeas are also referred to as "longevity beans" locally. Medical and food experts highly praise chickpeas for their comprehensive nutritional profile, high biological value, and excellent digestibility, considering them significantly superior to other types of beans.

　　Location: Xinjiang

　　Applicant: Wushi County Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Testing Center

　　Year of designation: 2013

　　Geographic Scope

　　Wushi County is located in the southwestern part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in the western part of the Aksu Prefecture, on the northwestern edge of the Tarim Basin, at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and in the upper reaches of the Toshigan River. It borders Wensu County and Aksu City to the east, Akqi County to the west, Keping County to the south, and shares a border with the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic to the north. The geographical indication protection area for Wushi chickpeas includes 37 villages across 5 townships under the jurisdiction of Yingawati Township, Aqiatage Township, Yinmamu Township, Yakeli Township, Aktuohai Township, Aotobeixi Township, Yamansu Township, and Wushi Town. The geographical coordinates range from 78°23′41″ to 80°01′09″ east longitude and from 40°43′08″ to 41°51′12″ north latitude, with an average elevation of about 1,200–2,000 meters. The protected area spans 750 hectares, with an annual output of 2,400 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Features: The beans have distinct edges, are brown in color, and are generally round in shape with a pointed tip. The color is white, the skin is thin, the seeds are small, measuring 0.8 cm in length and 0.6 cm in width, with a thousand-seed weight of 160–200 grams. The seed coat is yellowish-brown, and the overall shape resembles an eagle’s head with a beak-like tip. The surface of the seeds is not smooth, slightly wrinkled, and angular. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Chickpeas are extremely rich in nutrients, surpassing other types of beans in both variety and quantity. They contain Vitamin B1 (0.35–0.58 mg/100g), Vitamin B2 (0.035–0.058 mg/100g), and reduced Vitamin C (8–15 mg/100g). They are high in protein, averaging 19.5–23.0 g/100g, with ash content of 2.5%–3.7%, fat content of 4.1%–5.4%, and up to 18 types of amino acids (including all 8 essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize on its own). Each kilogram of chickpeas contains 760–850 mg of calcium, 50–70 mg of iron, 9,500–11,000 mg of potassium, 3,100–3,600 mg of phosphorus, 25–38 mg of zinc, 5–10 mg of copper, and 1,400–1,700 mg of magnesium.