Xinjiang Licorice: Standardized Desert‑Oasis Medicinal Herb Base

As China’s largest licorice‑producing province, Xinjiang occupies the core desert‑oasis medicinal‑herb belt of Northwest China, with planting areas distributed across Hotan, Kashgar, Ili, Tacheng, Altay and Bayingolin prefectures. Three major native licorice species grow here: Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Ural licorice), Glycyrrhiza inflata (inflated licorice) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice).

Xinjiang licorice is protected under the local geographical‑indication standard DB65/T 4123‑2023, which specifies variety requirements, minimum 3‑year planting cycle and threshold for glycyrrhizic acid content. Large‑scale standardized demonstration bases include Hotan Moyu County GAP science‑technology demonstration base, Bachu inflated licorice base, Emin large‑scale licorice farm and Altay seedling‑breeding base. Relying on desert‑oasis ecological advantages, standardized planting, digital traceability system and strict wild‑resource protection rules, Xinjiang supplies high‑grade licorice raw materials for pharmaceutical factories, botanical‑extract enterprises and cosmetic industries worldwide.

Unique Desert‑Oasis Growing Environment

Xinjiang licorice bases sit in arid desert‑oasis zones with typical temperate continental climate. Abundant sunshine, strong ultraviolet radiation, huge diurnal temperature difference and low annual precipitation create ideal conditions for licorice secondary‑metabolite accumulation.The sandy‑loam and saline‑alkali desert soil is loose and well‑drained, allowing licorice taproots to penetrate deep underground. Far from heavy‑industrial pollution, the habitat delivers low‑risk planting environment for herbal raw materials.

Different ecological zones cultivate distinct licorice varieties. Northern Xinjiang oasis‑steppe mainly plants Glycyrrhiza uralensis, famous for solid root texture and balanced active‑ingredient profile. Southern Xinjiang desert‑riparian zones represented by Bachu are the core producing area for Glycyrrhiza inflata, featuring high glycyrrhizic acid content, widely applied in botanical‑extraction and skin‑care sectors.As native desert plants, licorice roots stabilize sand dunes and improve saline‑alkali land, realizing dual value of herbal production and desert ecological restoration.

Standardized Base Construction & Cultivation Technology

Large‑scale demonstration bases in Xinjiang implement full‑set standardized technical systems adapted to arid desert‑oasis conditions:

1. Specialized seedling breeding: Altay region builds large‑scale licorice seed‑production and seedling‑raising bases, preserving local provenance germplasm and avoiding mixed exotic varieties.
2. Water‑saving drip‑irrigation system: Film‑mulched drip irrigation is widely adopted to reduce water consumption in arid land and prevent secondary soil salinization, matching local water‑resource conditions.
3. Green plant protection: Priority is given to biological prevention and control; chemical pesticides are strictly limited to meet TCM raw‑material safety standards. Making full use of licorice rhizobium nitrogen‑fixing capacity to cut nitrogen‑fertilizer application.
4. Scientific growth & harvest cycle: Artificial‑planted licorice follows a 3‑5‑year growth cycle before autumn harvest, ensuring sufficient accumulation of glycyrrhizic acid and flavonoids. Wild‑resource protection zones apply rotational‑harvest management of 3‑5‑year cycles, with mechanical‑assisted plus manual protective digging mode.
5. Digital intelligent management: Hotan Moyu GAP base deploys IoT “smart herbal garden” system, monitoring soil moisture, light and nutrient indexes. Blockchain‑supported unique digital ID is assigned to batches of licorice to realize full‑chain traceability from seedling to finished goods.
6. Circular utilization: After harvesting, licorice rhizomes go through natural sun‑drying processing; above‑ground stems and leaves are recycled as forage to improve resource utilization efficiency.

The industry mainly operates under “enterprise + base + cooperative + farmer” framework. Large planting enterprises provide seedlings, technical guidance and unified purchasing; local farmers participate in field management, driving local rural economy.

Certification, Standards & Resource Protection

• Local Geographical Indication Standard: DB65/T 4123‑2023 Geographical Indication Product — Xinjiang Licorice, specifying permitted varieties, producing‑area scope, planting cycle and physicochemical indexes for GI‑authorized products.
• GAP Chinese Medicinal Herb Base: Xinjiang’s first licorice GAP science‑technology demonstration base locates in Moyu County, Hotan, covering 8000 mu, constructing complete GAP‑compliant whole‑process management system.
• Quality performance: Standardized‑planted Xinjiang licorice keeps glycyrrhizic acid content at 2.0%‑3.5%, meeting or exceeding Chinese Pharmacopoeia requirements, satisfying international procurement standards for herbal raw materials.
• Strict wild‑resource protection: Wild licorice collection implements licensing‑management system. Unregulated random digging is prohibited. Wild‑resource zones adopt zoning rotational‑harvest, enclosure conservation and seed‑collection projects. Commercial raw materials mainly derive from standardized artificial‑planting bases to realize sustainable utilization of desert herbal resources.

Industrial Value

Xinjiang ranks first nationwide in licorice planting area, serving as China’s core supply base for licorice raw material and licorice extract products. Xinjiang licorice is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, pharmaceutical preparations, health‑care products, plant extracts and cosmetic raw‑material sectors. While developing characteristic herbal economy, large‑scale licorice planting plays an important role in desert sand fixation and saline‑alkali land improvement, achieving win‑win outcomes for economic development and ecological conservation.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between northern‑Xinjiang and southern‑Xinjiang licorice?

A: Northern Xinjiang mainly produces Glycyrrhiza uralensis, with compact root texture and balanced active ingredients, ideal for TCM prescription use. Southern Xinjiang Bachu and surrounding areas are famous for Glycyrrhiza inflata, with outstanding glycyrrhizic acid content, widely used in botanical‑extraction and cosmetic industries.

Q: Is wild licorice allowed to be freely harvested in Xinjiang?

A: No. Wild licorice collection implements special permit management. Harvesting is limited to designated zones with approved annual quota. Random digging is strictly forbidden. Commercial raw materials are primarily sourced from standardized artificial‑planting bases.

Q: What is the minimum planting cycle for qualified Xinjiang GI‑licorice?

A: According to local GI standard DB65/T 4123‑2023, artificial‑planted licorice shall grow no less than 3 years before harvesting to guarantee active‑ingredient accumulation.