Pan'an Fragrant Torreya

Pan'an Fragrant Torreya

　　Pan'an Fragrant Torreya is a specialty of Pan'an County, Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province. Pan'an has been producing fragrant torreya for over 1,300 years and is renowned as the “Hometown of Fragrant Torreya.”

　　Pan'an has been producing fragrant torreya for over 1,300 years. Historically, Pan'an County was part of Dongyang Commandery. The 5th-century “Supplement to the Materia Medica” recorded: “It grows in the commanderies of Yongchang and Dongyang.” The 10th-century “Collected Rhymes” by Ding Du of the Song Dynasty noted: “Torreya is the name of a tree that bears fruit, found in the various commanderies of Dongyang.” According to the “Zhou Family Genealogy of the Apricot Planting Hall in Feihu Village” preserved in Feihu Village (formerly known as Torreya Valley), Wanhuang Township, Pan'an County, local residents began planting torreya trees as early as the Tang Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Pan'an Fragrant Torreya was already an imperial tribute. Additionally, there are many villages and place names related to “torreya” in the county, such as Torreya Valley, Torreya Dock, Board Torreya, Under the Torreya Tree, and Torreya Tree Ridge, all bearing historical traces of fragrant torreya growth. To this day, there is an ancient torreya cluster in Huanglianwo, Dongchuan Village, Anwen Town, Pan'an County, with over 600 trees, among which the oldest torreya tree is over 1,500 years old and is hailed as the “King of Chinese Fragrant Torreya.”

　　In the 2003 survey of fragrant torreya germplasm resources in Pan'an County, 17 natural varieties were discovered — not only more than those in Zhuji and Dongyang, but also of superior quality. Statistics show that the county preserves over 6,100 ancient torreya trees aged over 100 years, mainly distributed across Wanhuang, Shanghu, Yushan, Jiuhe, Anwen, and Yaochuan townships in the Yushan area. Among them, Linggan and Ban Torreya villages in Shanghu Town, Huangli Village in Yushan Town, and Dongchuan Village in Anwen Town have the densest distribution. It is worth mentioning that the “King of Chinese Fragrant Torreya” remains highly productive, yielding up to 900 kilograms in peak years, with a production value of over 20,000 yuan. In recent years, the county has vigorously developed fragrant torreya bases, initially forming a fragrant torreya industry belt focused on the areas of Anwen, Yaochuan, Shuangxi, Dapan, and Yushan.

　　In recent years, with support from governments at all levels and intensive development by private enterprises, the fragrant torreya industry in Pan'an County has grown rapidly. Currently, 16 private enterprises — including Everbright Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd., Feng’er Local Specialty Co., Ltd., and Daqinggu Agricultural Co., Ltd. — have invested in the fragrant torreya industry. The county’s fragrant torreya plantation covers an area of 56,300 mu, accounting for 54.9% of the total 102,600 mu of economic forest land. In 2012, the production of torreya husks reached 2,000 tons, generating a total income of 140 million yuan, with per capita fragrant torreya income among the 82,000 rural mountain residents reaching 1,707 yuan. In the same year, the dry seed production of fragrant torreya reached 500 tons, with an industry value of 210 million yuan.

　　Meanwhile, Pan'an County adheres to a brand strategy, focusing on two brands — “Feng’er” Fragrant Torreya and “Panfeng” Fragrant Torreya — to enhance the added value of torreya products. The “Feng’er” trademark has been recognized as a Famous Trademark of Zhejiang Province and a Famous Forestry Product Brand of Zhejiang Province, and has been awarded the title of one of Zhejiang Province’s Top Ten Recommended Fragrant Torreya Brands for three consecutive sessions, as well as being named a Famous Product of Jinhua City. The “Panfeng” trademark has been designated as a China Famous Trademark.