Basic Introduction to Fengquan Mint
Fengquan Mint, produced in the Fengquan District of Xinxiang City, Henan Province, is a renowned local specialty and is praised by the locals as “the herb of immortals.”
The land in the Fengquan District of Xinxiang is fertile, with clear and sweet spring water and deep well water. Through excavation, organization, practice, and personal roasting, modern techniques are combined with traditional methods to effectively blend the fragrance of Tea with the fresh scent of mint.
Mint, also known as silver dan grass or night-scented stock, is a perennial herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It has opposite leaves and small, pale purple flowers with a lip-shaped structure. After flowering, it produces dark purplish-brown small fruits. It prefers warm, humid conditions with plenty of sunlight and can often be found growing in wetlands in the wild. The entire plant has a fragrant aroma and is an aromatic crop with special economic value.
Mr. Zhai Majialiu, the general manager, utilizes the superior quality and medicinal Health benefits of Fengquan Mint to roast a series of Lao Zhai's Mint tea, which is characterized by its elegant osmanthus fragrance, sweet and smooth taste, and refreshing qualities. It is also highly resistant to steeping, with notable health benefits. The main products include Fengquan Green and Mu Ye Xiu.
Nutritional Value
Fengquan Mint has a fragrant and fresh aroma and is one of the commonly used Chinese herbs. According to Li Shizhen's “Compendium of Materia Medica” from the Ming Dynasty, “Mint has a pungent flavor, a cool nature, and is non-toxic.” Mint is pungent and cooling, promoting sweating and heat dissipation. Drinking Tea made from its leaves can treat symptoms such as colds, headaches, red eyes, body heat, pharyngitis, and swollen gums. Applying crushed leaves to affected areas can help alleviate neuralgia, skin itching, rashes, and eczema. Regular consumption, whether raw or cooked, can dispel evil toxins, relieve fatigue, and invigorate one's spirit, leaving the breath fresh. It can also treat excessive phlegm and various colds. In addition, washing with a decoction can treat knee sores; consuming the juice can address wind heat and oral problems; using the juice to rinse the mouth can remove bitter taste; inserting the leaves into the nose can stop bleeding; and it can treat bee stings and snake bites.
Product Characteristics
1. Sensory Features:
The stems are robust, the branches and leaves are lush, the leaf color is soy green, the leaves are thick, and the fragrance is intense.
2. Quality Indicators:
Fengquan Mint is famous for its high-quality characteristics. Not only does it have high nutritional value, but it also possesses excellent medicinal and health benefits. Locally, it is known for the saying, “inflammation and pain cease with one drink,” earning it the reputation as the ‘herb of immortals.' According to test results from the Ministry of Agriculture's Fruit and Seed Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Zhengzhou), among others, Fengquan Mint contains Vitamin C at 53-55 mg/100g, potassium at 3.4-3.7 g/kg, iron at 21-23 mg/kg, and crude fiber at 0.7-0.9%.
Historical and Folklore
The cultivation of Fengquan Mint has a long history. It is said that during the Southern Song Dynasty, Yue Fei's army marched north to resist the Jin invasion. When they reached Xinxiang, it was midsummer, and the intense heat left the soldiers parched and listless. Yue Fei was greatly concerned, wondering how his weary troops could fight the Jin. At this critical moment, an elderly man led a group of villagers carrying tea to comfort the soldiers. This tea was refreshing to look at, invigorating to smell, and refreshing to drink, completely dispelling the oppressive heat. Yue Fei was delighted and asked the old man what kind of tea it was. The old man replied, “We use the water from the Phoenix Spring to the north of the city and roast the mint growing near the spring to make this tea, named Fengquan Green.” Yue Fei laughed heartily, saying, “With such a divine substance to aid me, why worry about not defeating the Jin?” He then led his troops northward, successfully breaking through the Jin forces. Thus, Fengquan Green became widely recognized and became a fine tea.
In the first year of Zhengde (1506) in the Ming Dynasty, County Magistrate Chu Shan and Confucian instructor Li Jin compiled the “Xinxiang County Gazetteer of Zhengde” (at that time, the Fengquan District belonged to Xinxiang County). This gazetteer, the first county record preserved in Xinxiang, recorded on page 18, “Medicinal plants: mint, trilobite gourd, poria, chestnut kernels, wolfberry berries, bone-penetrating herb, pinellia, plantain seeds…”.
In 1747, during the twelfth year of the Qianlong period in the Qing Dynasty, County Magistrate Zhao Kaiyuan edited and Chang Jun compiled the “Xinxiang County Gazetteer” (at that time, the Fengquan District belonged to Xinxiang County). On page 659 of Volume 18, it is recorded: “Herbs include safflower, dodder, cuttlefish powder, mugwort, mint, trilobite gourd…” These historical facts fully demonstrate the long and continuous history of Fengquan Mint.
In 2011, the suitable total planting area for Fengquan Mint was 2,023 hectares, with an annual output reaching 15,000 tons.
Awards and Honors for Fengquan Mint
Fengquan Mint is known for the saying, “inflammation and pain cease with one drink” and is hailed as “the herb of immortals.”
On August 17, 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China approved the implementation of geographical indication protection for “Fengquan Mint” as an agricultural product.