Basic Introduction to Fuding Gardenia
The city of Fuding has a long history of planting yellow gardenia and is known as the “Famous City of Chinese Gardenia.” It is the largest production area for gardenia raw materials in China, with the highest output and a major trading hub for gardenia fruit. The gardenia flower, as the city flower, has been granted the national geographical indication trademark “Fuding Gardenia Flower.”
The gardenia cultivation area in Fuding spans over 60,000 mu (approximately 4,000 hectares), producing over 60,000 tons of fresh flowers and fruits annually. Gardenia production accounts for nearly 80% of the national market share, supporting over 60,000 people involved in its cultivation and processing. The entire industry chain generates an annual output value of nearly 1 billion RMB. Historically, gardenia was referred to as “Zi Zi,” with various names recorded in herbal texts throughout the ages. Modern literature standardizes it as “Gardenia,” with other common names including Yellow Gardenia and Mountain Gardenia. In the “Pharmacopoeia” section of the “Fu Ning Prefecture Annals” compiled by Li Ba, the magistrate of Fu Ning during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong period, there is a clear record: “Mountain Gardenia, also known as Branchia. Buddhist scriptures refer to it as ‘Yanpu.' Its flower has six petals, and its fruit has seven ridges; it is also called Yue Tao.” This indicates that the traditional recognition and use of Fuding gardenia in cultivation and medicine date back two to three hundred years. Fuding is renowned as the birthplace of white Tea, often described as “World White Tea in China, Chinese White Tea in Fuding.” However, Fuding is not just about white tea. The mountainous areas in the northwest of Fuding are primarily composed of red and yellow-red soils, providing ideal natural and climatic conditions for the growth of gardenia. The unique geographical climate and superior natural ecological environment of Fuding have nurtured the yellow gardenia, which is considered a treasure from head to toe, with both its flowers and fruits being used medicinally. Fuding enjoys the reputation of being the “Famous City of Chinese Gardenia,” with its special geographical climate and superior natural ecological environment fostering a unique gardenia industry in the city. Currently, the gardenia cultivation area covers around 60,000 mu (approximately 4,000 hectares), producing over 60,600 tons of fresh flowers and fruits annually. Over 60,000 people are engaged in gardenia cultivation and processing, generating an annual output value of over 700 million RMB along the entire industry chain. Fuding and its surrounding areas have become the largest production area for gardenia raw materials in China, with the highest output and a major trading hub for gardenia fruit.
Nutritional Value
Gardenia is bitter and cold in nature, entering the heart, liver, lung, and triple energizer meridians. It has the functions of clearing heat and relieving irritability, promoting diuresis, cooling blood, and detoxifying.
Product Characteristics
It can beautify and green the environment.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the older generation of Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Fuding began exploring traditional Chinese medicines, establishing research facilities for yellow gardenia and educating rural barefoot doctors. According to “The Fujian Eastern Herbal,” using two taels of fresh gardenia boiled with one tael of rock sugar can treat urinary tract bleeding.
The charm of the gardenia flower also lies in its ornamental significance. Amidst misty breezes, the scent of the flowers wafts through the air like a fairyland. To see the gardenias in Guanling, one can start at Tiao Cheng, cross the stream to Mingyang, or go through He Pitou to Fen Shuiguan, then on to Junying and Wenyang. The paths are muddy, but the gardenias stretch for miles, their fragrance reaching far and wide.
Gardenia flowers are edible and can be used to create unique dishes. First, clean the flowers and blanch them in a pot, then drain off the water. Place the flowers back in the pot and stir-fry them, adding a little salt, ginger threads, soy sauce, and aged vinegar, mixing well before serving. Upon tasting, a fragrant flavor emerges.
Historical Folklore
According to the “Medicine Annals of Fujian Province,” during the Three Kingdoms period, gardenia flowers were introduced to Taiwan by immigrants for medicinal purposes, and trade in gardenia flowers occurred through ports during successive dynasties.
According to the “Fu Ning Prefecture Annals” compiled in 1762 during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty by Magistrate Li Ba, in the twelfth volume under Food and Goods – Products – Medicinal Herbs: “Mountain Gardenia, also known as Branchia. Buddhist scriptures call it ‘Yanpu.' Its flower has six petals, and its fruit has seven ridges; it is also called Yue Tao.” Gardenia cultivation in Fuding dates back over 250 years. From its fragrance to its abundant fruit, yellow gardenia serves both ornamental and medicinal purposes, and can be processed into high-value products, making it economically valuable.
According to the “Annals of Fuding County,” the domestication of wild gardenia in Fuding started during the Qing Dynasty, over 250 years ago.
The cultivation of Fuding gardenia initially began with farmers in the Fen Guan village of Guanling Town planting cuttings in their fields, which expanded over time to form a regional industry. It is said that ancestors advised their descendants to prioritize the business of gardenia above all others.
In the late 1980s, after the success of the cutting propagation experiment in Fen Guan village of Guanling Town, the propagation rate of gardenia increased. In 1992, the Soil and Water Conservation Office of Fuding County planted gardenia trees alongside tea bushes in Fen Guan village to conduct soil conservation trials. Three years later, the trees bore fruit, coinciding with a period of high demand for gardenia fruit in China. At that time, the price per kilogram of fresh fruit reached up to 5.4 RMB, significantly benefiting local farmers. Between 1996 and the early 2000s, a wave of gardenia planting swept through villages such as Fen Guan, Mingyang, Junying, and Guanling, covering nearly 10,000 mu (approximately 667 hectares).
Awards and Honors for Fuding Gardenia Flower
“Geographical Indication Trademark,” “High-Quality Authentic Medicinal Materials Demonstration Base,” “Second Batch of Fujian Province's Agricultural Product Advantage Zones,” “Fuding Yellow Gardenia Agricultural Product Geographical Indication,” and 11 other public brands; and subsequently received the “Fuding Gardenia Flower Agricultural Product Geographical Indication” and “National Geographical Indication Trademark” public brands.