Peppermint grown in Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]

The refining techniques of peppermint oil in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, made the list of the city's intangible cultural heritage items in 2017.

Blessed with a northern subtropic climate and warm temperate monsoons, Nantong boasts abundant sunlight and raindrops, which yields high-quality peppermint.

Hou Jun checks peppermint products. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]

The history of growing and utilizing peppermint in Nantong can be dated to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In the 1980s, China was recognized as the main producer of peppermint in Asia while Nantong was the main producer in China.

The refining techniques of peppermint oil are simple and only involve air-drying peppermint and distillation. Nantong-made peppermint oil has earned a renowned reputation for refreshing fragrance and high quality.

The inhaler nasal sticks, developed by Hou Jun, contain peppermint oil. [Photo/WeChat account: chongchuanonline]

Hou Jun, an inheritor of the craft, was born into a family skilled at making peppermint oil. In recent years, Hou has developed some creative products made by peppermint to breathe new life into the declining peppermint industry in Nantong.

From inhaler nasal sticks and face masks to pillows, Nantong-grown peppermint has taken its share in the market of cultural and creative products.