In Shayuan Town, located in Maoming's Dianbai District, the vast vegetable fields are blanketed with vibrant green Shuidong Mustard. Workers hustle to harvest, wash, and load the crisp stalks under the warm spring sun, creating a lively scene of rural life.
Known as the "finest mustard in the world," Shuidong Mustard is a specialty of Dianbai that is celebrated nationwide. Its tender stems, sparse leaves, sweet flavor, and fiber-free texture make it exceptional. Nutritionally, it contains twice the vitamin C of regular cabbage and an astounding 1,134mg of calcium per 100g, making it the highest in calcium among vegetables.
How crisp is it? A freshly harvested stalk, still glistening with morning dew, will break into pieces with a "snap" when dropped.
This unique quality has earned Shuidong Mustard its status as a Certified Geographical Indication product, making it synonymous with premium mustard greens.
The mustard's exceptional quality is a result of Dianbai's unique geography and climate. Bordering the South China Sea, this subtropical region enjoys abundant sunlight, ample rainfall, and a long growing season, all of which create the perfect conditions for vegetable cultivation.
"Shuidong Mustard thrives best in sandy, slightly acidic soil, about six kilometers from the coastline," experts say.
Dianbai's dune-rich landscape and slightly acidic soil create an ideal environment for growing. To ensure top-quality crops, Dianbai has established specialized seed breeding bases, providing farmers with carefully selected premium cultivars.
Today, Shuidong Mustard flourishes across 40,000 mu (approximately 2,667 hectares) of Dianbai, yielding nearly 80,000 tons of harvest. Key growing areas include Shuidong, Lintou, Guanzhu, Danchang, Magang, Shuzai, Diancheng, Lingmen, Mata, Xiaoliang, and Shayuan.
Author | Deng Jianqing
Photo | Deng Jianqing
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
