[Explanation] Slicing, pruning, classification... Recently, a reporter from China News Agency walked into the "Hometown of Astragalus in China" astragalus processing and manufacturing factory in Hunyuan County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. The unique taste of Chinese medicinal materials permeated the entire factory area. Workers process astragalus.
Kang Yao, the inheritor of "Hunyuan Zhengbei Qi Processing Technology", is 72 years old this year and has been engaged in the processing and manufacturing of Astragalus for more than 40 years.
In 2010, Kang Yao was selected as the inheritor of "Hunyuan Zhengbei Qi Processing Technology".
Due to the specific sandy loam soil and unique ecological environment, Hunyuan County has created good conditions for the authentic growth and development of Hengshan "Zhengbeiqi".
[Concurrent] Kang Yao, inheritor of Hunyuan Zhengbeiqi processing skills
Astragalus in Hunyuan is good, it is related to its geographical environment, altitude, and soil, which has a lot to do with these. The places where astragalus are harvested on our mountains are all sandy loam formed by granite weathering. Can't grow either.
[Explanation] Astragalus has health care, medicinal, cooking, etc., and astragalus has a history of thousands of years.
According to the "Book of Wei", as early as 1500 years ago in the Northern Wei Dynasty, there were records of wild astragalus excavation in the Datong area.
In Bai Juyi's poem "Zhaiju", "Huangqi several spoons of porridge, one pot of red arrow soup", "Huangqi" is the traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus.
The production of astragalus requires more than 20 processes such as excavation, drying, trimming, and slicing. Each step has strict requirements. Manual excavation is performed during the autumn equinox every year. The excavated astragalus only needs to be placed in the open air and slowly dried. After March of the second year, the astragalus can be dried and the next step can be carried out.
[Concurrent] Kang Yao, inheritor of Hunyuan Zhengbeiqi processing skills
Drying is important. If you do not pay attention to drying, the heat will be over.
It will take at least half a year to process it, and it will start to be processed and sold after half a year.
[Explanation] Hunyuan Zhengbei Qi is mainly exported to Hong Kong, and then distributed to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and other international markets through the Hong Kong market.
Speaking of the sale of Astragalus, Kang Yao is very proud.
[Concurrent] Kang Yao, inheritor of Hunyuan Zhengbeiqi processing skills
We basically have no contracts, because the clients I deal with have been in the shortest period of more than 30 years. Words are contracts, and character is a contract.
[Explanation] In recent years, with the support of government departments, Hunyuan County has established the Hunyuan County Hengshan Astragalus Industry Development Leading Group to formulate the "Hunyuan County Astragalus Industry Development and Protection Implementation Plan" and "Hunyuan County 2021 Astragalus Industry High" "Special Action for Quality Development", etc., to promote the continuous development of Hunyuan Astragalus industry.
[Concurrent] Kang Yao, inheritor of Hunyuan Zhengbeiqi processing skills
In the next step, we plan to start the processing of astragalus, carry forward the slices of Hunyuan Astragalus, strive to do a good job, and build an excellent enterprise. We are making progress step by step in this regard.
Report from Shangan Xingwang Datong, Shanxi
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]