Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionProcessed Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Commodity GroupDried vegetable / edible botanical bulb scales
Scientific NameLilium spp. (commercial sources commonly include Lilium lancifolium, Lilium brownii var. viridulum, and Lilium pumilum; edible markets may also reference Lanzhou lily groups)
PerishabilityLow (dried product; quality is moisture-sensitive during storage and shipping)
Growing Conditions- Temperate cultivation conditions with well-drained soils suitable for bulb development
- Multi-year bulb production cycles and rotation/soil management are commonly relevant for bulb-crop performance
Main VarietiesLilium lancifolium Thunb., Lilium brownii F.E. Brown var. viridulum Baker, Lilium pumilum DC., Lilium davidii var. unicolor (Lanzhou lily)
Consumption Forms- Rehydrated and cooked as an ingredient in soups, stews, congee, and sweet dessert preparations
- Used in herbal/functional food preparations in markets where lily bulb is positioned as dual-use food and medicinal botanical
Grading Factors- Moisture/overall dryness and absence of mold
- Intact whole-scale rate vs. broken rate
- Color (excessive darkening as a defect depending on buyer spec)
- Foreign matter and cleanliness
- Insect damage/infestation indicators
- Residue compliance (e.g., sulphites/sulfur dioxide where applicable; pesticide residues per destination requirements)
- Botanical identity/species conformity to buyer specification
Market
Dried whole lily bulbs (dried lily bulb scales, often marketed as Baihe/Lilii Bulbus) are a niche but globally traded dried vegetable/botanical product used in East Asian cuisine and in dual-use “food and medicine” channels. Supply and primary processing are strongly concentrated in China, where multiple Lilium species are recognized for commercial/medicinal use and where named producing areas include Lanzhou (Gansu) alongside other long-established cultivation regions. International demand is most visible in East Asian markets and in overseas Asian retail/ingredient supply chains, with trade shaped by buyer specifications on moisture, cleanliness, and botanical identity. A key market dynamic is compliance-driven risk management (e.g., sulphite/sulfur dioxide residues and pesticide MRLs), which can trigger border rejections and rapid de-listing by importers.
Major Producing Countries- 중국Central production and processing base for Lilii Bulbus (Baihe) supply; Lanzhou (Gansu) is a well-documented edible lily bulb producing area and multiple established cultivation regions are noted in peer-reviewed literature.
Major Exporting Countries- 중국Primary origin for internationally traded dried lily bulb products; literature notes exports of edible lily bulbs from China to Korea and Japan.
Major Importing Countries- 대한민국Identified as an export destination for Chinese edible lily bulbs in peer-reviewed literature; confirm latest importer ranking via ITC/UN Comtrade for relevant HS aggregation.
- 일본Identified as an export destination for Chinese edible lily bulbs in peer-reviewed literature; confirm latest importer ranking via ITC/UN Comtrade for relevant HS aggregation.
- 미국Imports occur via specialty/diaspora ingredient channels; validate scale and HS mapping using official UN Comtrade / ITC Trade Map queries for the chosen product definition.
Supply Calendar- China (notably Gansu Province / Lanzhou region for Lanzhou lily):Oct, Nov, Mar, AprHarvest/collection commonly described as autumn for Lilii Bulbus; research on Lanzhou lily bulbs also reports mass harvesting in late October and notes digging/harvest can occur in early spring depending on local practice and storage/marketing needs.
Specification
Major VarietiesLilium lancifolium Thunb., Lilium brownii F.E. Brown var. viridulum Baker, Lilium pumilum DC., Lilium davidii var. unicolor (Lanzhou lily; edible bulb cultivar group in China)
Physical Attributes- Dried, layered bulb scales (petal-like segments) sold whole or as intact scales; buyer preference often favors thick, clean, uniform pieces
- Color ranges from off-white/yellowish to light brown depending on drying method and varietal origin; excessive darkening can be treated as a quality defect
Compositional Metrics- Moisture content specification (low moisture) is central to shelf stability and mold risk management
- Residue testing focus can include sulphites/sulfur dioxide (when sulfur-fumigation is used) and pesticide residue compliance against destination MRLs
Grades- Commercial grading commonly differentiates by piece size/thickness, intact-whole rate vs. broken rate, cleanliness/foreign matter, and evidence of insect damage or mold
Packaging- Moisture-barrier retail pouches or bulk poly-lined cartons/sacks; desiccant use is common in humidity-sensitive dried botanicals
- Clear lot coding and botanical/varietal identification documentation is often requested by importers for higher-spec channels
ProcessingRehydrates when soaked and is typically cooked in soups, stews, congee, and sweet dessert preparations; also used in herbal/functional food formats
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Bulb collection/harvest -> washing -> peeling/separating scales -> brief blanching (origin-dependent) -> drying -> sorting/grading -> packaging -> export distribution via ingredient/herbal wholesalers and retail channels
Demand Drivers- Culinary use in East Asian dishes (soups, congee, sweet preparations) and ingredient demand in overseas Asian retail
- Dual-use positioning as a traditional food and medicinal botanical in some markets, supporting demand in herbal/functional product channels
Temperature- Typically ambient logistics; primary control point is low humidity and protection from condensation to prevent mold and caking
- Avoid heat/humidity cycling in transit and storage; use sealed moisture-barrier packaging for maritime freight where applicable
Shelf Life- Shelf life is generally long when kept dry and protected from pests; quality failures are most often driven by moisture ingress, mold growth, oxidation/darkening, or infestation during storage
Risks
Food Safety HighRegulatory non-compliance (notably sulphites/sulfur dioxide residues when sulfur-fumigation is used, plus pesticide residue MRL issues) can trigger shipment rejections, delisting by importers, and rapid disruption of trade flows for dried lily bulb products.Implement lot-based testing plans (including sulphites/sulfur dioxide and destination-market MRL panels), require documented processing methods (fumigated vs. non-fumigated), and maintain supplier traceability back to producing area/species.
Product Authenticity MediumMultiple Lilium species are used commercially and recognized in pharmacopeial contexts; dried scale form reduces visual diagnosability, increasing the risk of species substitution/mislabeling and inconsistent functional/culinary quality.Specify accepted species/variety group in contracts and labeling, require COA/identity documentation, and use periodic DNA/barcode or targeted chemical-marker verification for higher-risk channels.
Quality Degradation MediumMoisture ingress during storage/shipping can lead to mold, off-odors, caking, and insect infestation, reducing usable yield and increasing food safety and recall risk.Use moisture-barrier packaging with desiccants where appropriate, control warehouse RH, and apply pest-management and inbound moisture/aw checks at receiving.
Supply Concentration MediumSupply is heavily concentrated in China with identifiable producing areas; localized weather shocks, disease pressure, or policy shifts can tighten availability and raise prices in import-dependent markets.Maintain multi-supplier sourcing within and across producing provinces, qualify alternative origins where feasible, and build buffer inventory for peak-demand periods.
Sustainability- Quality and consumer safety concerns linked to sulfur-fumigation practices in parts of the supply chain (residual sulphites/sulfur dioxide) and the resulting compliance pressure on exporters
- Agronomic yield/quality risks in concentrated producing regions (e.g., replanting/soil fatigue issues reported for Lanzhou lily cultivation research contexts)
FAQ
What are dried whole lily bulbs used for in global food trade?They are traded as a dried ingredient that is typically rehydrated and cooked in soups, stews, congee, and sweet dessert preparations, and they also appear in herbal/functional food channels in some markets.
Where is global supply most concentrated for dried whole lily bulbs?Supply and primary processing are strongly concentrated in China, with documented producing areas including the Lanzhou (Gansu) region and other long-established cultivation regions referenced in peer-reviewed and pharmacopeial contexts.
What is the biggest trade compliance risk for dried whole lily bulbs?Food safety and regulatory compliance is the most critical risk—especially sulphites/sulfur dioxide residues when sulfur-fumigation is used and pesticide residue MRL compliance—because failures can cause border rejections and immediate trade disruption.