Basic Introduction to Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum
The Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum is a specialty product of Jiaxiang County, Jining City, Shandong Province. The Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum grows 60-100 centimeters tall, with erect stems that are slightly woody at the base and often branched above. The leaves are ovate with coarse teeth or deep lobes along the edges, and the base is wedge-shaped with petioles. The upper surface of the leaf has sparse downy hairs while the underside is densely hairy. Flowering occurs from Cold Dew to Frost's Descent, with head-like flower clusters 3-4 centimeters in diameter, singly terminal or axillary, arranged in corymb-like fashion. The involucral bracts have central green areas with wide hyaline margins and white downy hairs. The marginal ray florets are white or pale yellow, while the central disc florets number 50-70 and are yellow. The achenes are cylindrical without pappus and do not develop.
The Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum, after long-term cultivation and selection by local farmers, has developed characteristics such as large flowers, pure white color, strong fragrance, and excellent medicinal properties. Therefore, when chrysanthemums were used in Traditional Chinese medicine, they were often prefixed with “Jia,” and “Jia chrysanthemum” was as famous as “Wen calamus,” both considered top-quality products. It is cool in nature and sweet-bitter in taste, capable of dispersing wind heat and clearing liver and eyes. Thus, the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum is an essential herb for ophthalmology and the treatment of headaches. In feudal times, it was even a tribute item to the imperial court. As a result, the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum, as a medicinal chrysanthemum, enjoys nationwide popularity and high esteem in the herbal world, commanding prices 25% higher than other chrysanthemums.
The planting bases for the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum are characterized by a warm temperate semi-humid monsoon climate, with moderate temperatures and distinct seasons. Winters are cold with little snowfall, springs are dry and windy, summers are hot and rainy, and autumns are clear and cool with significant temperature differences. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of -1.2°C, and the annual average temperature is 13.6°C. The annual average sunshine duration is 2,490 hours, and the average evaporation is 1,782.6 millimeters. The predominant winds throughout the year are southeast and south. These thermal conditions are suitable for the growth of the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum. This variety is a traditional crop in the region, and local farmers have years of experience cultivating it. It is a unique, high-quality local variety that has been carefully improved and scientifically cultivated through painstaking exploration.
Jiaxiang County is located in western Jining City, Shandong Province, on the edge of the Yellow River alluvial plain. The terrain slopes from northwest to southeast, with an altitude ranging from 40-35 meters, a north-south elevation difference of 5 meters, and an east-west elevation difference of 3-4 meters. The total land area is 145,740 mu, including 92,830 mu of arable land. The soil is fertile, containing 11 grams of organic matter, 76 milligrams of alkaline nitrogen, 24 milligrams of available phosphorus, and 140 milligrams of available potassium per kilogram of soil. The soil texture is light sandy loam, which retains nutrients and water well, has good air permeability, and a deep layer with an average depth of 60-70 centimeters, making it conducive to the cultivation of the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum.
Nutritional Value
The Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum “benefits the lungs and kidneys, restrains heart fire, and pacifies the liver wood, thereby stopping wind and eliminating heat, thus nourishing the blood of the eyes and removing eye membranes.” It relieves eye fatigue, naturally nourishes the eyes, clears heat and reduces fire, drives away irritability and cools the body, induces sleep, soothes the mind and nourishes the lungs, calmly governs the world, calms the mind, has antioxidant properties, delays aging, fights inflammation, prevents cancer, alleviates eye swelling, induces sleep and soothes the spirit, and cleanses and beautifies the body. The main components of the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum include flavonoids (1.90-2.10%), amino acids (1.55-1.65%). It contains proteins (≥12.0%), vitamin E (1.5×102-3.5×102 mg/kg), zinc (≥25.0 mg/kg), calcium (≥500.0 mg/100g), iron (≥220.0 mg/kg), and other trace elements essential for human health.
Product Characteristics
The Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. It grows 60-100 centimeters tall, with erect stems that are often branched. The leaves are ovate, with serrated or deeply lobed edges, and white head-like flower clusters arranged in corymb-like fashion. It is the dried head-like flower cluster of the perennial herbaceous plant Chrysanthemum of the Asteraceae family. The propagation method involves using the regenerative properties of the roots and stems of chrysanthemums: after harvesting, the above-ground stems are cut off, and the roots are either left in place or dug up and planted in selected seedling beds for the cultivation of new seedlings, which are then transplanted the following year.
History and Folklore
The cultivation history of Jiaxiang chrysanthemums in Jiaxiang County, Jining City, Shandong Province dates back a long time. Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a person in Hualin Village, Maji Township, who enjoyed planting trees and shrubs. Among these plants, he grew chrysanthemums, and because his surname was Hua (meaning “flower”), the area came to be known as “Hualin.” By the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, Jiaxiang chrysanthemums had become popular across the country, sold through pharmacies in Shanghai. In 1977, relevant departments conducted specialized research on the varieties of chrysanthemums in our county, identified their quality, and found that this variety had a strong fragrance, large and white flowers, and excellent quality. Whether considering the medicinal qualities or the characteristics of the plant itself, it had unique features, leading to its naming as “Jiaxiang chrysanthemum.” Because it was marketed externally through the Jining herbal market, the commercial name became “Ji chrysanthemum.”
Awards and Honors of Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum
In 2012, Jia chrysanthemum passed the certification for green food.
In 2013, one company in Jiaxiang County applied for the registration of Jia chrysanthemum as an intangible cultural heritage and sought organic food certification for 200 acres of its production.
On December 30, 2013, the former Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China approved the implementation of national agricultural geographical indication protection for “Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum.”
Legacy
The cultivation history of Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum, originating from the Tang Dynasty, spans over 1,000 years. It is not only one of the 773 geographical indication trademarks in Shandong Province but also the 80th geographical indication protected product. This truly embodies the characteristics of Shandong's geographical brands: rich in history and cultural spirit. This has given the local market supervision department and agricultural enterprises a sense of mission to revitalize and prosper the Jiaxiang White Chrysanthemum.