n the height of summer, winged beans across Hainan enter their peak harvest period. In core planting areas including Maogan Township of Baoting and Tongshi Town of Wuzhishan, lush green winged beans climb all over trellises, while farmers busily pluck tender pods. Named for its four-edged pods whose cross-section resembles star fruit, this distinctive vegetable has become a standout calling card of Hainan’s specialty vegetable industry, thanks to its unique crisp taste and outstanding nutritional value. Hainan Yingtian Ark Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. closely monitors the winged bean harvest cycle. Leveraging local origin strengths, the company connects premium supply chain resources to expand its lineup of specialty vegetables, bringing crisp, sweet Hainan flavors to consumers nationwide.
The Specialty Vegetable Known as “Green Gold”: Winged Bean Outshines Ordinary Vegetables in Nutrition
The winged bean, scientifically named Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, is also dubbed dragon bean, star fruit bean, wing pod bean and emperor bean. Originating from tropical rainforests in tropical Africa and Southeast Asia, it was introduced to China and mainly cultivated in Hainan and Yunnan. Hainan’s year-round hot, rainy climate with abundant sunlight perfectly matches the growth requirements of winged beans, yielding far superior produce than other regions and cementing its status as a flagship Hainan specialty vegetable.
Hailed as both “Green Gold” and “King of Beans”, winged bean boasts extraordinary nutritional properties. Test data shows it is rich in protein, various amino acids, vitamins and minerals, with a protein content of 34% to 40% — far higher than common beans. Its lysine content even exceeds that of soybeans, alongside abundant healthy fats and dietary fiber. It contains exceptional levels of vitamin E, carotene, iron, calcium, zinc, potassium, selenium and more, dwarfing all regular vegetables in nutrient density. Regular consumption supports anti-aging, boosts memory, supplements iron, calcium and zinc, and prevents osteoporosis, making it an unparalleled health-boosting vegetable.
Policy Guidance & Tech Empowerment Fuel Steady Growth of Winged Bean Industry
The winged bean industry benefits from favorable policy support. In 2025, the Hainan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued guidance on readjusting winter vegetable planting structures, explicitly advocating for expanded legume cultivation, including winged beans and kidney beans. As a major winter vegetable production base in Hainan, Sanya fully implements the adjustment strategy of “stabilizing melons, cutting peppers, expanding beans, and increasing aquatic vegetables”. Through variety upgrading, brand leadership, policy guarantees and technical support, the city boosts quality and efficiency across its vegetable industry.
For technological empowerment, in December 2025, the Hainan Provincial Department of Justice partnered with the Environment and Plant Protection Institute of Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences to deliver industrial training for winged bean farmers in Nanchun Village, Maogan Township, Baoting. The training covered full-chain services such as variety optimization, green certification, brand development and production-marketing docking, helping Nanchun Village shift from “great harvests” to “profitable sales”. Winged beans grown in Maogan Township have adopted the shared regional brand “Xian’an Dragon Bean”, a renowned local specialty and primary source of farmers’ income. The township now boasts over 1,000 mu of winged bean plantations. Its unique climate with large day-night temperature differences produces premium-quality winged beans, making it one of China’s most suitable growing regions for the crop. At the perennial vegetable base in Hongya Village, Tongshi Town, Wuzhishan, winged beans and Sauropus androgynus (tree melon greens) thrive, supplying restaurants and custom order clients across Sanya. Winged beans grow year-round in Hainan, commanding a market price of up to 30 yuan per kilogram and generating impressive per-mu output value.
Versatile Culinary Uses: Crisp, Sweet Freshness Straight from Farm to Table
Winged beans deliver a crisp texture with a delicate, light sweet fragrance and subtle lingering sweetness. Young pods contain minimal fibrous matter, offering juicy, crunchy bites with bright natural sweetness. Popular cooking methods include garlic stir-fry, cold salads, hot pot ingredients, and stir-fries with seafood. In Hainan, locals frequently stir-fry winged beans with snail meat, dried shrimp, scallops or tiny salted fish, blending the bean’s fresh vegetal aroma with rich seafood umami for an unparalleled flavor profile.
Edible Safety Reminder:Winged beans contain natural toxins: saponins and trypsin inhibitors, so they must never be eaten raw. Blanch the pods in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes to neutralize most toxins before cooking and consumption.
Leveraging Origin Advantages to Expand the “HAINAN FRESH PRODUCTS” Portfolio
The thriving winged bean industry exemplifies high-quality development of Hainan’s specialty vegetable sector. Amid Hainan’s three-year campaign to elevate the provincial agricultural brand “HAINAN FRESH PRODUCTS”, the province now counts 130 authorized enterprises under this brand umbrella. Hainan is accelerating the construction of a four-in-one brand system integrating standards, certification, testing and traceability
Hainan Yingtian Ark Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. aligns closely with the “HAINAN FRESH PRODUCTS” brand upgrading strategy and continuously tracks developments in Hainan’s specialty agricultural sectors. Rooted in local origin advantages, the company actively sources premium supply chains for specialty vegetables including winged beans, enforces strict quality control, and steadily expands its product lineup. Transported directly from farmlands in Maogan Township, Baoting to dining tables nationwide, Yingtian Ark advances the development of Hainan’s specialty vegetable industry through concrete action, delivering more premium “HAINAN FRESH PRODUCTS” across the country beyond the island.