Yongkang Wuzhiyan Ginger

Yongkang Wuzhiyan Ginger

Yongkang Wuzhiyan Ginger is a product recognized with a Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.

　　Wuzhiyan Ginger is predominantly produced in the Zhongshan Township area of Yongkang City and is named after the nearby Wuzhiyan (Five-Finger Rock), hence the name “Wuzhi Ginger.” It has been documented in historical texts dating back to the Song Dynasty.

　　There are many local legends about the origins of Wuzhi Ginger. One folk tale recounts how Bai Suzhen, the snake spirit from the Legend of the White Snake, …

　　Wuzhi Ginger is an excellent choice both for culinary and medicinal uses. A popular local saying goes, “Eating three qian (about 15 grams) of Wuzhi Ginger a day keeps the doctor away.”

　　Wuzhiyan Ginger is cultivated in the Wuzhiyan Mountain area of Zhongshan Township, over 1,000 meters above sea level. The surrounding 50-square-kilometer region is pollution-free. The ginger is grown using farmyard manure without pesticide spraying, making it a purely natural, pollution-free green food. The mountain is often shrouded in mist, and its fertile soil gives the Wuzhiyan Ginger its distinctive flavor. Each ginger stalk weighs between 0.75–1.00 kg, featuring an attractive appearance with a smooth, pale yellowish skin tinged with light goose yellow. The young sprouts are thick and light purplish-red, and the flesh is tender, juicy, and low in fiber. The ginger boasts a strong aroma, a moderately spicy taste, and excellent quality, making it perfect for fresh consumption or for making pickled products, ginger slices, ginger tea, ginger juice, and more—it’s a fine seasoning ingredient. According to Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu), ginger helps strengthen the spleen and stimulate appetite, while also providing health benefits such as dispelling cold, removing dampness, and inducing perspiration. Sliced and boiled or shredded and stir-fried, Wuzhiyan Ginger offers an exceptional taste, and especially the dish “Wuzhiyan Ginger Chicken” is a renowned delicacy in the Jiangnan region.

　　Wuzhi Ginger is widely renowned and sells well across China. It is also exported to Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, and other regions. (Yongkang)

　　Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Features: Yongkang Wuzhiyan Ginger is fan-shaped, with plump and tightly arranged rhizomes, giving it an attractive appearance. Most have a single layer, with a few having two to three layers. The weight per plant is about 0.5–1 kg. Young ginger has a pale yellowish-white skin with bright red scales, while mature ginger harvested is light yellow with dark red scales that fade and shrink over time, turning the skin into a earthy yellow. It has a strong ginger aroma. When young, it contains less fiber and is mildly spicy; when mature, the fiber increases and the spiciness becomes stronger. Breaking the ginger reveals a slight “white mist” (volatile oil). It is suitable for fresh consumption or for making pickled products, ginger slices, ginger tea, ginger juice, etc. 2. Internal Features: Yongkang Wuzhiyan Ginger contains 85%–93% water, 0.75%–0.82% fat, 0.58%–0.64% total amino acids, 0.68%–0.75% protein per 100 grams, 3390–3700 mg potassium, and 108–118 mg calcium. 3. Safety Requirements: During production, storage, transportation, and sales, relevant national agricultural industry standards must be strictly followed to ensure product quality and safety. Records of production and sales should be properly maintained.

　　The geographical coordinates of the protected area for the Yongkang Wuzhiyan Ginger Geographical Indication agricultural product range between 28°45′31″N–29°06′19″N and 119°53′38″E–120°20′40″E, covering 16 towns (streets, districts) and 710 administrative villages within Yongkang City. It spans from Ankeng Village in Tangxian Town in the north, to Hougangtou Village in Xixi Town in the east, to Dawu Village in Qiancang Town in the south, and to Chenlongkeng Village in Huajie Town in the west. The current planting area of Wuzhiyan Ginger is 400 hectares, with an annual output of over 7,200 tons, and the protected area spans 876 square kilometers.