As osmanthus flowers blossom across Huzhou, Zhejiang province, local producers are bringing a range of products made from the fragrant flowers to market, creating new business opportunities for rural industries.
In Huizhouzhuang village, Shuikou township, Changxing county, Lin Ruizhuan is preparing osmanthus-scented Zisun black tea. From mid-October to early November, fresh osmanthus flowers are layered with black tea made in spring, allowing the leaves to absorb their fragrance through a traditional scenting process.
Lin said the tea has a lingering floral aroma and a sweet aftertaste. The tea farm produces about 1,000 kilograms annually, with products sold across the Yangtze River Delta region. The seasonal tea generates nearly 2 million yuan ($299,544) in output value for the farm.
Bottles of osmanthus wine are displayed. [Photo/Tide News]
Osmanthus is also used in rice wine and Chinese yellow wine. At Deqing Moganshan Wine Co in Xinshi ancient town, Deqing county, seasonal osmanthus products have reached the market. Zhang Yong, a company representative, expects sales of the osmanthus wine range to reach 10,000 to 20,000 bottles during its roughly two-month peak season.
Osmanthus cakes and desserts are also appearing on the market. According to Huzhou's agriculture and rural affairs authorities, dozens of local agricultural businesses process osmanthus, helping turn the seasonal harvest into an additional source of income for rural communities.
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