Shandong’s Yinan: Sunzu Millet – Golden Grain for Prosperity

YINAN, China, July 10, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Sunzu millet is a geographical indication agricultural product of China, originating from Sunzu Town, Yinan County. This special millet is produced at the eastern foot of Menglianggu in the Yimeng Mountains and boasts a rich planting history of over 1,000 years.

Image: Yinan Sunzu Millet

Sunzu millet boasts a creamy yellow hue, a tender and delectable flavor and an alluring aroma. It not only has the effects of nourishing qi and blood, invigorating the stomach, dispelling dampness, and aiding sleep but is also highly nutritious, earning it the title of “ginseng soup.” Modern scientific tests have shown that it contains nearly 10 grams of protein and close to 20 milligrams of vitamins per 100 grams, surpassing regular millet by a significant margin. The planting of Sunzu millet still follows traditional methods, while modern processing techniques are used in the millet processing process. The final product is vacuum-sealed to prolong the storage life, ensuring the superb quality and taste of Sunzu millet.

During the revolutionary war years, the people of Yimeng actively supported the army, with women using millet porridge to treat wounded soldiers while soldiers using “millet and rifles” to achieve victories one after another. Chen Yi, who fought in the Yimeng base for a long time, fondly recalled, “Even if I were lying in a coffin, I would never forget the people of Yimeng. They supported the revolution with millet and pushed the revolution across the Yangtze River with their carts.” 

In recent years, Sunzu Town has achieved sound development momentum that features large-scale planting, standardized production, refined processing, market-oriented sales, and brand operation by implementing the operation model of “leading companies + cooperatives + bases + farmers,” making Sunzu millet the “golden grain” for local residents to increase income and achieve prosperity.