Lanxi Bayberries

Lanxi Bayberries

Lanxi Bayberries are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Lanxi Bayberries are a specialty of Lanxi City, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. The Ma'jian Bayberries from Lanxi are of high quality—large in size, small in pit, sweet and mildly tangy, deep purple and glossy, rich in dietary fiber, mineral elements, vitamins, as well as a certain amount of protein, pectin, fat, and eight types of amino acids beneficial to human health.

　　Lanxi is the largest primary production area of bayberries in central and western Zhejiang, with a long cultivation history. The city currently has 65,000 mu of bayberry orchards, including 60,000 mu of commercial varieties. In 2009, the yield reached 15,000 tons, with an annual output value of 126 million yuan. Major cultivars include the Biqi variety, Dongkui, and Muye, mainly distributed along the provincial highway S47 Lanpu Road in hilly and mountainous areas of towns (streets) such as Yunshan, Xiangxi, Ma'jian, and Baishe. These form the uniquely scenic “Fifty-Mile Bayberry Corridor.”

　　Lanxi Bayberries are known for their early market availability and superior quality. They generally hit the market in late May to early June, about 7–10 days earlier than other major bayberry-producing regions. The bayberries produced here are of excellent quality—large in size, small in pit, sweet and mildly tangy, deep purple and glossy, rich in dietary fiber, mineral elements, vitamins, as well as a certain amount of protein, pectin, fat, and eight types of amino acids beneficial to human health. Their calcium, phosphorus, and iron content are more than ten times higher than that of other fruits. They offer health benefits such as cooling the body, promoting saliva production, improving urination and spleen function, quenching thirst, relieving cough, stimulating appetite, and aiding digestion. The Lanxi Bayberries have won multiple Gold Awards at the Jinhua Premium Fruits Exhibition, the East China Agricultural Trade Fair, and the Zhejiang Agricultural Expo. They have been recognized as Jinhua Famous Products and Jinhua Well-Known Trademarks. In 2003 and 2007, they were consecutively rated among the Top Ten Premium Bayberries in Zhejiang. In 2005, they were awarded the title of Zhejiang Famous Brand. In 2008, they obtained certification as a Zhejiang Well-Known Trademark, as well as certifications for Green Food, Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Origin, and Zhejiang Forest Food Base.