Home of fish mint in China
2023-04-15 21:04:51
By Chen Zai, Yichang International Communication Studio
Villagers bagging the cleaned fish mint
In the past, villagers in Lianghe Town, Dangyang, Yichang City mainly grew cotton. Up until the year 2000, annual per capita income plateaued at around 1,200 yuan.
Villagers bagging the cleaned fish mintIn the past, villagers in Lianghe Town, Dangyang, Yichang City mainly grew cotton. Up until the year 2000, annual per capita income plateaued at around 1,200 yuan.
Enter “fish mint”. In 1998, the villagers discovered their sandy soil was perfectly adapted to this perennial plant – its name comes from its powerful raw fishy smell – which is indigenous to China, Korea and Japan.
In the 25 years since, fish mint has become a key crop not just for the town but for the whole of Dangyang City. Used both as a vegetable and in traditional Chinese medicine, the crop is now sold to more than 20 provinces across China.
A fish mint field in Lianghe Town
In 2022, the annual output value of Lianghe Town’s fish mint industry topped 600 million yuan, and is expected to soar again in 2023 to reach 1 billion yuan. Local annual income from fish mint alone has grown to more than 100,000 yuan per capita.
The town has been recognized as the "Home of fish mint in China" by the China Vegetable Marketing Association.
