The spicy Quzhou duck heads. [Photo/IC]

Quzhou in East China's Zhejiang province has introduced an official standard for its famed spicy duck heads, approved by the China General Chamber of Commerce, aiming to enhance the product's brand competitiveness and market recognition.

The standard, developed by the Quzhou municipal bureau of market supervision and the Quzhou Institute of Metrology and Quality Inspection, sets guidelines for the production, inspection, and sale of Quzhou duck heads, requiring the use of fresh or frozen Pekin duck heads weighing between 105 and 130 grams.

In recent years, Quzhou's tourism market has thrived, with its spicy duck heads gaining popularity nationwide as a trendy delicacy. However, the rapid increase in Quzhou duck head outlets nationwide has led to inconsistent raw material quality and pricing, making it difficult for consumers to assess product quality.

This new standard builds on the "Made in Zhejiang" standard for Quzhou duck heads, released in 2019, and incorporates additional local characteristics.

Fu Wentao, a staff member at the Quzhou Institute of Metrology and Quality Inspection, said that the new standard includes local spices such as Quzhou Xiaohuang ginger and Quzhou chenpi — a dried, aged tangerine peel used as a traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient — which major local producers frequently use.

The standard also specifies taste metrics, requiring a minimum umami amino acid content of 3 g per 100 g and a spiciness level of at least 350 Scoville heat units.