Protecting the geographical indication "Chu Se" for pepper products
On December 27, 2021, the Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property issued Decision No. 6163/QD-SHTT on the issuance of the Certificate of registration of geographical indications No. 00115 for the geographical indication "Chu Se" for pepper products (pepper). The People's Committee of Gia Lai province is the organization that manages geographical indications.
The history of Chu Se pepper started in the 80s of the last century1 when people brought it home to plant and grow it into a highly profitable commodity crop. This is a job-creating crop and the main source of income for thousands of farming households in Chu Se district. In the Central Highlands provinces, Chu Se district of Gia Lai province is one of the districts with the largest pepper area in the region2. From 2008 to 2020, Chu Se pepper is known for its highest yield in the country.
Chu Se pepper is not only consumed domestically but also exported to a number of other countries around the world, including the European Union and the US3.
Chu Se pepper includes 3 types: green pepper, black pepper and white pepper (skull pepper). Chu Se pepper has the characteristics of large and uniform seeds. Green pepper has a diameter of 4.45 - 5.85 mm, black pepper from 3.85 - 5.65 mm, white pepper from 3.65 - 5.43 mm.
Chu Se pepper has a strong aroma and a spicy taste, which is shown by its weight, Piperin content and high volatile oil content. Green pepper has a weight of 589 - 638 g/l, Piperin content from 5.89 - 6.35%, volatile essential oil content of 1.53 - 1.76%; Black pepper has a weight of 558 - 592 g/l, Piperin content from 6.59 - 7.36%, volatile essential oil content from 1.84 - 2.20%; White pepper has a weight of 616 - 651g/l, Piperin content from 7.05 - 7.42%, volatile oil content from 2.01 - 2.28%.
The specific properties and quality of Chu Se pepper are due to the relationship between natural geographical conditions and traditional production techniques of people in the geographical area.
Chu Se district is a land with special natural geographical conditions. This is a very suitable land for pepper plants because it is a flat or slightly sloping basalt red soil located at an average altitude of 700-800m above sea level. This type of soil is close to the craters, the lava is rich in clay minerals, the soil layer is thick, well drained, and the soil is fertile.
Besides the soil, the climate of the geographical area also has many factors affecting the specific properties and quality of Chu Se pepper. The air humidity of the geographical area is from 80-90%, high humidity will facilitate the pollination process easily (pollen seeds easily stick to the stigma) and the pollination time prolongs the enlarged stigma favorable for fruiting with high fruit setting rate. The embryo will grow larger, making the average grain diameter of Chu Se pepper relatively large. In addition, the temperature amplitude between day and night of the geographical area is relatively large, from 8 to 10oC, making the metabolism process longer, the period of creating aroma and spiciness of pepper will be longer.
The time for pepper plants to flower and produce fruit coincides with the dry season that lasts from December last year to April next year in the geographical area, less rain is a favorable condition for pepper plants to differentiate flower buds and bloom in concentration easy to form and store, condensing the nutrients in the fruit. The time to harvest pepper often coincides with the dry season, so the drying and preservation of pepper products is convenient.
Geographical area: Ia Tiem commune, Chu Pong commune, Ia Glai commune, Bo Ngoong commune, Al Ba commune, Ia Hlop commune, Ia Blang commune, Ia Pal commune, Ia Ko commune and Chu Se town, Chu Se district, Gia province Lai.
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