Zanthoxylum lingqiu

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a deciduous shrub or small tree with thorns on its branches. The fruit of Zanthoxylum bungeanum is spherical, and the two halves of the shell are buckled. When it matures, it automatically becomes violent and dark red. The seeds are black. Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a good seasoning and a traditional Chinese medicine. There are two kinds of Zanthoxylum bungeanum varieties in Lingqiu. One is "Fujiao" (mature in the dog days). Because of its small particles, people often call it "Small Zanthoxylum bungeanum", which is dark red. The second kind is "autumn pepper" (mature in autumn), which is large and red, so Lingqiu people are also called "big pepper" or "Dahongpao". Compared with the two kinds of Zanthoxylum bungeanum, the first kind has a stronger taste. The Nanshan area in Lingqiu has overlapping mountains and mild climate, which is very suitable for the growth of pepper. Therefore, the planting of Zanthoxylum bungeanum in Lingqiu is mainly distributed in the ditch slopes and river valleys of villages and towns such as Xiaguan, Shangzhai, Duyu and Hongshihuan. In 1958, the county party committee and government allocated special funds to support the development of Zanthoxylum bungeanum planting. In that year, many small nurseries were set up and Zanthoxylum bungeanum trees were planted vigorously. Since then, it has been planted year after year with a high survival rate. Seedlings generally begin to bear fruit in three years, and enter the full fruit period in seven or eight years. By 1990, the county's annual output of pepper was 2.57 tons. By 2007, the cumulative planting area is 6,000 mu, and the annual output of Zanthoxylum bungeanum in the county is about 50,000 Jin.
Reprinted with attribution： https://cnlocality.com/(Chinese Specialty Products)