Chongqing - Two tons of green Sichuan peppercorns exported by Chongqing Jiangjin Fengyuan Pepper Co., Ltd. were cleared by the customs and exported to South Korea, according to Chongqing Customs District recently.

Sichuan pepper trees are traditional economic tree species in China. The output of green Sichuan peppercorns produced in Jiangjin District in western Chongqing is about 15%-20% of the whole national production. 

Chongqing Customs District's officers investigate the growth situation of green Sichuan peppercorns. (Photo / Chongqing Customs District)

Over 70% of Sichuan peppercorns in Southeast Asia imported from China

"This year, Sichuan peppercorns have their own tax item, and it is more convenient for us to declare exports and do market analysis," said Wang Yingzhong from Chongqing Jiangjin Fengyuan Pepper Co., Ltd.

Sichuan peppercorn is one of the "eight major condiments." They taste citrus-like and produce numbing micro-vibrations in the mouth when eaten, setting the stage for spicy chilies in classic Sichuan cuisine and maintaining huge potential as Sichuan cuisine becomes more and more popular overseas.  

A survey from Chongqing Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone shows that the demand for Chinese pepper in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and other overseas countries has increased yearly.

Especially more than 70% of Sichuan peppercorns in Southeast Asia are imported from China.

According to Deng Jikuan, Director of the Tariff Department of Chongqing Customs District, China is the world's largest producer of Sichuan pepper. 

Deng said giving Sichuan pepper an exclusive tariff number is like obtaining its self-ID. It is conducive to carrying out global trade analysis and accurately giving policies to encourage the development of the Sichuan peppercorn industry and conducive to promoting Chongqing and China's characteristic agricultural products to open up international markets.

Chonging Customs District's officer is checking the products of Sichuan peppercorns produced by enterprises. (Photo / Chongqing Customs District)

Deng continued to further promote pepper to the world; Chongqing Customs District has also built a fast green channel for the export of agricultural products, further saving 30% of customs clearance time. 

Chongqing Xiyong Comprehensive Bonded Zone has set up a research group to collect the access conditions of Sichuan peppercorns from more than 40 major countries and regions worldwide and guide enterprises to meet the different trade requirements.

Helping enterprises to carry out assessment, analysis, and early warning of the regulations and standard requirements of the leading countries and regions that the enterprise exports, and improving the level of product quality, Chongqing Customs District will promote the exports of the Sichuan peppercorns industry and also expand the exports of other specialty agricultural products such as citrus and Fuling mustard.