The average content of saponin－the effective ingredient for medication－in astragalus is 0.04 percent in China. But the content in Hunyuan's products is more than 0.16 percent on average, Zhang explained.

For this reason, Hunyuan astragalus became a geographical indication-protected product in 2014.

To increase added value for the product, Hunyuan's astragalus is currently widely used in making herbal teas, in addition to producing medicines.

The county recently established an astragalus tea industrial park to engage more individuals and businesses in the production, research and development and sales of the herbal tea products.

Hengshan Typical Herbal Tea Industry founded by local entrepreneur Zhao Fugui was the first company settled in the industrial park.

With a total investment of 170 million yuan, the enterprise's herbal tea production facility is scheduled to be operational in two years.

"Upon completion, our company will be capable of producing 160-million-yuan worth of astragalus tea a year," Zhao said.

Hengshan Tea Industry, founded by the Ciyao township government in Hunyuan, is another major astragalus tea producer in the park.

According to Wang Zhuoxiang, head of the Ciyao township government, the company can produce 15 metric tons of herbal tea products a year.

"This is a major poverty-relieving project founded by the township government," Wang said, adding it mainly purchases ingredients from impoverished families."Last year, we bought more than 15 tons of ingredients from 86 poor families in Ciyao."

Guo Yanjie contributed to this story.