Qingtian Bayberries

Qingtian Bayberries

　　Qingtian Bayberries are a specialty of Qingtian County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. The bayberries from Qingtian are known for their superior quality, large size, delicious taste, vibrant color, and a pleasant sweet-and-sour flavor that helps quench thirst. In 2003, Qingtian County was named the "Hometown of Chinese Bayberries."

　　Qingtian County is a small city located in the mountainous region of southern Zhejiang, a place known for its talented people and scenic beauty, famous both at home and abroad. It has long been celebrated as the "Hometown of Stone Carving," "Hometown of Overseas Chinese," and "Hometown of Celebrities." In recent years, Qingtian has leveraged its regional resource advantages to actively develop the bayberry industry, achieving remarkable results. In 2003, it was named the "Hometown of Chinese Bayberries," adding a shining new title to the county.

　　Bayberries have a long history of cultivation in Qingtian. According to the Qingtian County Annals from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, there were three varieties of bayberries: red, purple, and white, with red being superior to white and purple superior to red, and those from Ji Qu (Ji Qu Liao) being the best. Traditional varieties included Xiaikeng Mei, Kuishi Mei, Chashan Mei, and Heitan Mei, among which Kuishi Mei ripened early, and Xiaikeng Mei was the most renowned for its premium quality. This shows that by the Guangxu era, bayberry cultivation was already relatively common among Qingtian farmers and had gained a certain level of fame.

　　Qingtian County in Zhejiang Province boasts a naturally superior environment ideal for growing bayberries and has a long history of bayberry cultivation. The main bayberry-growing areas in Qingtian are concentrated in towns and villages near the Ou River, Xiao Xi, and Gui'ao Yuan river basins. These areas feature fertile soil, a suitable climate, fresh air, and abundant rainfall, providing optimal conditions for bayberry production. By 2013, the county's bayberry planting area had reached 112,000 mu, with 75,000 mu in production, yielding an estimated 30,000 tons of fresh fruit and generating a total output value exceeding 500 million yuan, making it one of the country's leading bayberry-producing counties. Among them, the mountainous "Shanhe" brand bayberry base in Jing'ao, Hecity, and Sunqian, Ren'gong, spanning 10,000 mu, produces bayberries that are large, delicious, and high-quality—renowned as the "Ping-Pong Bayberries."

　　Qingtian Bayberries were awarded the title of Famous Product at the 2001 China International Agricultural Fair and the Gold Award at the Zhejiang International Agricultural Fair. In June 2001 and June 2002, the Qingtian Bayberry Festival was held twice. The bayberries are popular in major cities such as Wenzhou, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. Bayberry wine, made by soaking bayberries, is a traditional favorite among locals. The "Shanhe" brand bayberries from Qingtian also won a series of prestigious awards, including "Famous Product at the 2001 China International Agricultural Fair," "Gold Award at the 2002 Zhejiang International Agricultural Fair," and "Top Ten Premium Bayberries in Zhejiang in 2003." In 2002, they officially received the "China Green Food" certification from the Green Food Development Center of China’s Ministry of Agriculture, becoming the first bayberry variety in China to obtain the right to use the Green Food trademark. At the end of 2003, after research by the Expert Committee of the Chinese Association for the Development of High-Quality Agricultural Products and the Experts Committee on the Hometown of Specialties, along with on-site inspections and document reviews, Qingtian was officially granted the honorary title of "Hometown of Chinese Bayberries."