Nanxi Bayberries

Nanxi Bayberries

　　　　Product Name: Nanxi Bayberries

　　Product Origin: Wenzhou

　　Product Characteristics: Sweet and tart in perfect balance, with a distinctive flavor

　　Product Introduction: In the “kingdom of fruits,” bayberries may not hold a prominent position, but they captivate the public with their unique charm. An ancient poem goes: “In May, bayberries fill the grove; at first glance, each seems worth a thousand coins. Their taste rivals the heavy grapes of the north, their color deeper than lychees from south of the river.” This shows how highly bayberries were valued in ancient times. Bayberries are sweet and tart in perfect balance, with a distinctive flavor. They are not only rich in nutrients but also have high medicinal value. According to modern medical analysis, bayberries contain abundant sugars, fruit acids, vitamin C, and many other components. They aid digestion, enhance nutrition, treat neuritis, and help prevent scurvy. Besides being eaten fresh, bayberries can also be processed into sugar-dried bayberries, canned bayberries, bayberry beverages, juices, preserves, and more. They are also one of the important raw materials for the food and brewing industries. The people of Yongjia County have a long-standing habit of soaking bayberries to make bayberry wine. This wine is mellow and fragrant; drinking it can help relieve summer heat, invigorate the stomach, refresh the mind, and sharpen thinking. The wood of the bayberry tree is reddish-brown and can be used to craft fine wooden utensils. The tree bark contains tannins, which can be used as a brown dye and as an astringent in traditional Chinese medicine, effective for treating diarrhea and stopping bleeding. The tree roots form root nodules that can produce their own fertilizer, thus improving woodland soil. As a result, it is referred to as a “fertilizer tree” in forestry.　　

　　Product History: Yongjia has a 500-year history of cultivating bayberries. Major varieties include local bayberries, button bayberries, and thorny bayberries. In the early 19th century, a variety named “Yongjia Late Local” (i.e., Luokeng Bayberry) became famous both inside and outside Wenzhou, and was later listed as one of the precious “teaching materials” for bayberries in the Horticulture Department of Zhejiang Agricultural University. Bayberries are grown all over Yongjia County, but Nanxi Bayberries are the most renowned, with major production areas in mountainous regions such as Yantou, Bilian, and Yantan. Nanxi Bayberries have long enjoyed a strong reputation in the Wenzhou market. After the tea mountain bayberries disappear from the market, Nanxi Bayberries dominate the Wenzhou market. Moreover, Nanxi Bayberries are more resistant to storage and easier to transport than tea mountain bayberries, making them especially popular among Wenzhou residents.