Ouyang Zimo, Postgraduate, Hunan University of Technology and Business
Huang Ruiqin, Postgraduate, New York University
Supervised by Dr. Zhang Ling, VP/Professor, Hunan University of Technology and Business
Director, Center for Sino-Africa Industrial Culture of Economy and Trade Projecting
On the banks of the Xiang River and Dongting Lake, there is a port named Zhangshu, which sits on the land of Xiangyin County, Changsha City, Hunan Province, between 112°47’11’e – 112°53’18’e longitude and 28°32’25’n – 28°35’40’n latitude. It is surrounded by Yangque Lake with Tielu Lake in the south and Wenjing Port in the north, which makes it a landform as a basin.
Zhangshu Port of Xiangyin County (Photo by Li Yang)
Zhangshu Port, located at the junction of the South Dongting Lake Plain and Esheng Mountain ranges, is suitable for the growth of chili peppers. The soil is mainly composed of river and lake alluvial deposits and Quaternary red soil, with deep and fertile soil layers rich in trace elements, providing superior conditions for the growth of chili peppers. This region belongs to a subtropical monsoon humid climate with distinct four seasons. The annual average precipitation is 1,390 millimeters, annual average temperature is 17.2 ℃, and the frost free period is 272 days. It is very suitable for chili peppers production. Hence, Zhangshu Port produces an indispensable seasoning in Hunan cuisine culture, naming Zhangshu Port Chili.
Zhangshu Port Chili Planting Base (Photo by Ouyang Zimo)
The chili plants in Zhangshu Port are petite, with lush and compact branches and leaves. Their fruits resemble sheep horns and are slender like fingers. They are light green at birth and turn green when mature. The surface of the chili peppers has longitudinal edges and wrinkles, with a slightly rounded tail end and thick and tight flesh. A single chili pepper weighs about 5-8 grams and has a rich range of spicy flavors. At first taste, it is slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness, then gradually becomes more spicy, crispy and delicious, and finally becomes spicy with a lingering fragrance. The pepper aroma is rich and unique.
Zhangshu Port Chili (Photo by Ouyang Zimo)
Zhangshu Port Chili carries a long history and touching legends. During the period of Emperor Yao & Shun in ancient times, the pathetic story of their two concubines’ weeping after their death was passed down in this land, and the pungent aroma of chili peppers seemed to have already been integrated into local customs. During the late Qing Dynasty, Zuo Zongtang, “a farmer from Hunan,” personally planted chili peppers here, which is still a delighted topic for people to chat. Zhangshu Port Chili, from the selection of high-quality seeds to purification and rejuvenation, each seed embodies the ingenuity of farmers. During seedling cultivation, sprinkling fire soil fertilizer on the fine garden soil, using winter and spring greenhouse film for cold protection, and covering the chili pepper with straw in autumn are all meticulous care for life. Soil preparation and fertilization, by applying decomposed organic fertilizer in deep sandy loam soil, can nourish the strong growth of each chili seedling. During the planting season, the root system of each tender chili seedling unfolds, the fine soil is gently compacted, the root is well watered, and a vow of life is made. The management of fertilizing water, the application of top dressing in shallow and medium tillage, the control and treatment of pests and diseases, the cleanliness and rotation of the fields, and the technology of frequent vibration lamps and insect traps all provide protection for the growth of chili peppers. Every high-quality Zhangshu Port Chili embodies the wisdom and sweat of farmers.
Zuo Zongtang Memorial Square (Photo by Li Yang)
Hunan Cuisine with Zhangshu Port Chili (Photo by Li Yang)
With the continuous expansion of the consumer market, the production scale of Zhangshu Port Chili is gradually expanding, and its reputation is increasingly promoted. In 2012, Zhangshu Port Chili was approved as a certification brand of National Geographical Indication. In the following year, Zhangshu Port Chili was included in the National List of Famous, Excellent, Special and New Agricultural Products. In 2014, the local pepper farmers’ professional farming cooperation was established, and the Zhangshu Port Chili Festival began to hold continually. Zhangshu Port Chili had gained great fame and become a spicy business card of Xiangyin County. In 2017, 1,200 hectares of chili were planted in Xiangyin County, with an annual total output of 8,000 tons. Among them, 7,500 mu of chili were planted in Zhangshu Port, with a yield of 5,000 tons and an output value of 150 million yuan. In 2018, China Ministry of Agriculture awarded Zhangshu Port Chili the registration of National Geographical Indications Protection Products. Nowadays, Zhangshu Port Chili has entered the dining tables of thousands of households and become a popular shopping item for tourists to buy for their friends and family. As time passes by, the story of Zhangshu Port Chili continues, and it will continue to make people’s lives even better.
Zhangshu Port Chili and the Chili Festival (Photo by Li Yang)
Editor’s Note: China Insight hopes you found this article informative and educational since we were selected to publish this exclusively. You can find additional articles about the Dong people and region by searching our website and entering “Dong People” and other key search terms to access the many special articles in our archive that have published over the years.