Origin
The rhizome of perennial herb-Coptis chinensis Franch or C. deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao or C. teeta Wall. of family Ranumculaceae.
Location
Mainly in Sichuan, Hubei provinces of China. C. deltoidea C. Y. Cheng et Hsiao is mainly from Hongya, Emei in Sichuan province of China, C. teeta Wall is mainly from Yunnan province of China.
Harvest
Collected in autumn.
The actual smell and taste:
Slight smell, extremly bitter.
Best quality
Big, strong, and hard with reddish yellow cross section.
Processing
Unprocessed, or prepared with ginger or wine.