Changshan Hericium erinaceus

Changshan Hericium erinaceus

Changshan Hericium erinaceus is an agricultural product with geographical indication status.

　　Hericium erinaceus is a precious edible fungus. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was listed as a tribute under the name of "mountain delicacy." In 1979, Changshan County successfully cultivated Hericium erinaceus using the residue from wine brewing with Eleutherococcus senticosus, and later developed the “Changshan Hericium 99” strain through ultraviolet mutagenesis selection. This marked the official debut of Changshan Hericium erinaceus. In 1984, a tasting event for Changshan Hericium erinaceus was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, attended by numerous leaders and celebrities including Yan Jici, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Fei Xiaotong, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. At the event, Yan Jici inscribed: “Changshan Hericium, a treasure of Zhejiang.” In 1985, Pujie, the younger brother of the last Qing emperor Puyi, wrote: “Mountain delicacy Hericium, seafood equivalent to bird’s nest.” In 2006, Changshan Hericium erinaceus was recognized as a “Famous Mushroom of Zhejiang” by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture. In 2014, the Changshan County Government elevated Changshan Hericium erinaceus to the level of one of the “Three Treasures of Changshan,” further enhancing its prestige. In 1987, canned Changshan Hericium and dried Hericium produced by the Changshan County Microbial General Factory won the “Ministry of Commerce Quality Product” award; in 2006, Changshan Hericium was named a “Famous Mushroom of Zhejiang”; in 2015, Changshan Hericium erinaceus obtained national geographical indication registration for agricultural products, and the “Senli Brand” Hericium erinaceus won the Gold Award at the 13th China International Agricultural Products Fair.

　　Changshan Hericium erinaceus is a specialty of Changshan County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Renowned both domestically and internationally, Changshan Hericium is small in size but beautiful in shape, tender in texture, sweet and refreshing in taste, rich in nutrition, and unique in flavor.

　　Changshan County is located in the mountainous region of western Zhejiang. Its lush green mountains and clear waters have created a “natural cultivation zone” highly suitable for the production of edible fungi. In 1978, Changshan successfully cultivated “Changshan Hericium,” adding another treasure to Zhejiang.

　　Hericium erinaceus is one of the four great mountain delicacies. It is not only high in nutritional value and delicious in taste, but also has medicinal properties, showing good therapeutic effects on various digestive tract diseases such as chronic gastritis. From the 1980s to the early 1990s, Changshan County once had the world’s largest cultivation volume of Hericium erinaceus, earning widespread fame.

　　Changshan Hericium contains 26.3% protein and 19 types of amino acids, including seven essential amino acids required by the human body, with a total content of 32 milligrams per 100 grams.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical indication protection area for Changshan Hericium erinaceus spans geographic coordinates between 118°15′ to 118°45′ east longitude and 28°46′ to 29°13′ north latitude. It includes 14 townships (streets) with a total of 180 administrative villages: Qiuchuan Town, Baishi Town, Qingshi Town, Zhaoxian Town, Fangcun Town, Huibu Town, Hejia Township, Tonggong Township, Xinchang Township, Daqiaotou Township, Dong’an Township, Jinchuan Subdistrict, Zigang Subdistrict, and Tianma Subdistrict. The current production scale is 100 hectares, with 7.5 million bags cultivated, producing 4,500 tons of fresh mushrooms annually. The protected area spans 20,000 hectares.

　　Product Quality and Characteristic Features

　　1. Morphological Characteristics: Fresh Changshan Hericium erinaceus is white or light yellow in color, with a cap-shaped, spherical to slightly flattened hemispherical form, and no stem. The diameter ranges from 3 to 15 cm. The flesh is tender, with a dense covering of needle-like spines that are 0.2 to 1.5 cm long. Fresh Hericium has a unique delicate fragrance, a smooth texture, and a slightly bitter taste when mature. The dried product is light yellow to yellow-brown, with a strong aroma and a slightly bitter flavor. 2. Quality Characteristics: Changshan Hericium erinaceus is rich in nutrition, containing abundant protein, amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements such as potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc, as well as active components like Hericium polysaccharides. Each 100g of dried product contains ≥12.0g of protein, ≥3.0g of fat, and ≥3.0g of crude polysaccharides. 3. Quality and Safety Standards: The production of Changshan Hericium erinaceus strictly controls the production process, prohibiting the use of any harmful or toxic inputs during cultivation and processing. Product quality and safety are ensured through rigorous testing and monitoring of physicochemical indicators such as protein and crude polysaccharide content, as well as hygiene standards. Hygiene indicators comply with GB 7096, the National Hygiene Standard for Edible Fungi.