Yangzhong Sprouting Grass

Yangzhong Sprouting Grass

Yangzhong Sprouting Grass is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Yangzhong Sprouting Grass is a specialty of Yangzhong City, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province.

　　 Sprouting grass, scientifically known as yellow sweet clover, is commonly called golden-flower vegetable, clover, or vegetable tops. Originally from India, it was brought back to Chang’an by Zhang Qian during the Han Dynasty’s missions to the Western Regions for trial cultivation. It is one of the ancient wild vegetables and has been cultivated in Yangzhong for over 200 years.

　　 Sprouting grass is a naturally wild vegetable consumed by locals, free from pests, and rich in various vitamins, amino acids, dietary fiber, beneficial inorganic salts, and trace elements. It contains the highest levels of vitamin K among all vegetables, with similarly abundant content of proteins, vitamins A, C, and B. Its leafy greens are especially rich in carotene and iron, making it a highly nutritious vegetable. The Ming Dynasty’s Li Shizhen listed sweet clover in the “Compendium of Materia Medica” under the vegetable category, noting that “dried, it benefits health and can be consumed long-term, nourishing the five organs…” Research shows that sprouting grass helps lower blood lipids, resist coagulation, prevent bleeding, clear internal heat, promote excretion, and protect arterial walls.

　　 Due to its disease and pest resistance, high yield, efficiency, rich nutrition, and natural green qualities, sprouting grass has become a popular green vegetable on urban dining tables. Though grown in other regions, its growth demands high standards in soil, climate, light, and temperature, resulting in inferior quality. However, Yangzhong’s unique geographical environment and regional advantages, along with 200 years of cultivation, culinary use, and processing history, have made its sprouting grass particularly vibrant green, tender, and fresh—with the best overall quality.

　　 Typically, each sprouting grass petiole bears only three leaves, shaped like hearts. It’s said that among 100,000 sprouting grass plants, you might find one with four leaves—thus, “four-leaf sprouting grass” is considered a lucky clover.

　　 The Yangzhong Jiangzhou Sprouting Grass Professional Cooperative Union was established in 2010 with registered capital of 11 million yuan, 800 member households, and 17 senior scientific and technical professionals. The cooperative currently owns ten thousand mu of sprouting grass planting bases and one thousand mu of facility-cultivated bases. Its fresh leaf sprouting grass has obtained organic food certification, is sold well in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Yangzhou, and Zhenjiang, and is exported to countries like Japan and South Korea, winning widespread consumer favor. The cooperative also runs 13 deep-processing enterprises for sprouting grass. After years of development, it has created six well-known trademarks: “San Ye” (Three Industries), “Hua Hong Sheng,” “Yang Hua,” “Zheng Kun,” “Jin Run,” and “Lü Dao,” with annual sales reaching 80 million yuan.

　　 To further implement the “Ten-Thousand-Mu Sprouting Grass Industrialization” project and accelerate the development of Yangzhong’s sprouting grass industry, the cooperative is dedicated to building the “Yangzhong Sprouting Grass” brand and bases, developing new varieties and deep-processing techniques, as well as managing marketing—truly strengthening an industry and enriching local farmers.

　　Yangzhong Sprouting Grass

　　 Southern Sprouting Grass Association

　　 11850101

　　 Sprouting Grass