Tangbula Black Bee Honey

Tangbula Black Bee Honey

Tangbula Black Bee Honey is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Ili black bee has a long history. Over 100 years ago, black bee populations were first introduced from the former Soviet Union. After the liberation, black bee queen-bee farms and large-scale breeding farms were successively established in Tekes County, Nileke County, and Zhaosu County of Ili. Under favorable nectar conditions, through long-term natural selection, domestication, breeding, and improvement, an excellent bee species was formed. In 1980, the state established the Ili Black Bee Nature Reserve, mainly distributed in Tekes County, Nileke County, and Zhaosu County. Ili, located in the western frontier of China, has long been known as the "Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall." The vertical diversity of the Tianshan Mountains—white snow-capped peaks, vast forests, and boundless grasslands—provides an ideal habitat for the reproduction of black bees, creating huge potential for high-quality black bee honey sources. Black bee honey mainly has the following characteristics:

　　Ili is remote and underdeveloped in transportation, and has not been affected by modern industrial or domestic pollution. It is one of the national organic farming and animal husbandry bases. In terms of honey standards, the heavy metal content of Ili black bee honey is far below both national and international levels, highlighting its green quality.

　　The mountainous and valley topography of Ili has created a rich diversity of plants, with a significant proportion being medicinal. Among over 100 types of wildflower plants that serve as nectar sources, typical examples include Codonopsis pilosula, Leonurus japonicus, Fritillaria, wild mint, thyme, and licorice, all of which offer notable health and nutritional benefits.

　　Tangbula Grassland is the largest black bee nature reserve in Xinjiang and also the largest state-owned black bee beekeeping base in all of Asia. Located along the northern route of the ancient Silk Road, Tangbula boasts a long history and rich grassland culture. With dense forests, vast grasslands, and a unique valley climate, coupled with fertile soil, the area nurtures expansive forests and natural pastures, as well as extremely rich plant diversity—wildflower coverage spans up to 400,000 hectares. The Tangbula Beekeeping Farm has become the primary breeding site for Ili black bees, and the Tangbula Queen-Bee Farm has been designated as part of the Ili Black Bee Nature Reserve. Tangbula is recognized as a major breeding base for Ili black bees. Tangbula Black Bee Honey is renowned across Xinjiang for its sweet taste and rich nutrition, and enjoys nationwide popularity.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographical indication of Tangbula Black Bee Honey is located in Tangbula Grassland, 55 kilometers east of Nileke County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It borders Qiaomai to the east, the Kash River to the south, Bayinguoleng Village of Wulasitai Township to the west, and Jinghe County to the north. The protected area includes two townships (farms): the bee-breeding farms within the Tangbula Black Bee Reserve and Wulasitai Township, covering a total of 10 villages. The geographical coordinates are between 83°13′–84°36′ east longitude and 43°80′–43°65′ north latitude, with an altitude ranging from 1,482 to 2,688 meters. The reserve covers an area of 33,333 hectares, with an annual honey production of 2,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Tangbula Black Bee Honey primarily comes from Tangbula’s natural organic nectar sources. The honey is light amber in color, a viscous liquid, free of impurities or bubbles, and emits a distinctive herbal fragrance. It has a rich, mellow flavor, a smooth and silky mouthfeel, and a texture as delicate as silk. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Fructose and glucose (g/100 g) ≥65, sucrose (g/100 g) ≤2%, moisture ≤25%. (3) Safety Requirements: Produced in accordance with GB/T19630.1-2005 "Organic Food – Bee Products"; processed according to GB/T19630.2-2005 standards, packaged and sold per GB/19630.3-2005 standards; and managed according to GB/19630.4-2005 standards.