When the former factory director sent me a few photos of the mugwort leaves he had collected, I immediately recognized them. These were the leaves I was supposed to inspect in person during the Double Eleven holiday, but I didn’t make the trip. Still, I trusted his expertise in assessing mugwort quality.
However, I noticed something unusual this time—the mugwort leaves were packed in plastic bags.
In all my years running the factory, it was the first time I had seen mugwort stored this way.
I couldn’t stop asking questions, but the former factory director wasn’t a fast typist. He simply said, “You’ll understand when you come back to the factory. The mugwort is of excellent quality, and the quantity isn’t large.”
Still, I felt uneasy. Plastic bags aren’t breathable—how could the essential oils in the mugwort volatilize properly? If there’s any moisture left, wouldn’t it easily mold inside plastic?
To an outsider, plastic bags might look cleaner, but we all know that’s not the point.
At our factory, quality control starts right at the source. Even when I’m not present during mugwort collection, photos are always sent to me for review.
Even though this batch was small, I still felt something was off. I quickly called the former factory director to get to the bottom of it.
It turns out these mugwort leaves were dried using a machine. They were thoroughly dehydrated, so there was no risk of moisture. The factory director was genuinely proud of how good the mugwort looked.
But in my heart, it wasn’t pleasing at all.
Regarding drying methods for mugwort leaves, there have always been two camps: the sun-drying camp and the shade-drying camp.
Sun-drying camp: After harvesting the mugwort during the Dragon Boat Festival, the leaves are laid out under the sun. Once the moisture content drops below 18%, they are moved into storage.
Shade-drying camp: After harvesting, the mugwort is left to dry naturally in a cool, shaded place. This requires an extremely large warehouse; otherwise, shade-drying isn’t feasible.
In theory, shade-drying is the superior method. But it’s based on ideal conditions:
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Good weather.
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Sufficient drying space.
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A controlled environment maintaining a stable temperature between 40–60°C to facilitate proper fermentation (this is crucial).
Without this fermentation step, the mugwort’s therapeutic properties are greatly compromised, and it is prone to molding.
Mugwort, being a “pure yang” herb, must be tempered with “pure yin” energy to achieve a yin-yang balance. Only then does the moxa burn gently and harmoniously, without damaging the meridians.
Few people realize that mugwort needs fermentation—this is absolutely key.
However, in real-world practice, drying mugwort properly faces many challenges:
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Mugwort must be harvested within a few specific days around the Dragon Boat Festival.
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Good weather isn’t guaranteed.
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Large, well-ventilated warehouses are rare.
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Proper spacing is essential to prevent the internal temperature from rising too high and damaging the leaves.
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Airflow, temperature, and humidity must be carefully controlled.
Often, the actual drying process is quite rough. Mugwort is harvested, spread out in the fields for one day to wilt, then manually stripped and sun-dried until its moisture content falls below 18%. It’s then stored away.
More standardized operations involve hanging the mugwort stalks in warehouses for shade-drying, ensuring good airflow to prevent mold and overheating.
Regardless of the method, ventilation is crucial. Mugwort must be stored in a way that allows for air circulation and temperature control (40–60°C, adjusted based on the fermentation state). Regular inspections must be conducted to prevent fire hazards from overheating or mold due to improper humidity levels.
Clearly, proper storage of mugwort isn’t simple, and high-quality moxa floss isn’t cheap to produce. To make good mugwort products, serious dedication is required.
In the past, our factory’s mugwort leaves were a mix of sun-dried and shade-dried methods. The storage environment was cool, dry, and well-ventilated. After years of natural aging, our moxa floss became exceptionally mild and gentle.
Now, suddenly encountering mugwort dried by machine was difficult for me to accept.
We prefer sticking to traditional processing methods. It’s not about chasing large volumes—quality must be guaranteed.
I instructed the factory director to store these two tons of machine-dried mugwort separately from the rest. I will personally test the moxa floss and moxa sticks produced from this batch.
Of course, I also reminded him: no future purchases of machine-dried mugwort.
The former director, who had been so excited about this batch, was naturally a bit disheartened by my strictness.
But there’s no other way. I am stubborn about upholding quality at every step of the production process.
Because only when each step is done right can I confidently sell our moxa sticks with pride.
This year, the price of mugwort continues to rise sharply. If we want to sustain our business long-term, a price increase for moxa sticks is inevitable.
Nevertheless, no matter what, quality will always remain our top priority.
When the tide rises, those who truly value quality will always seek out the best products.
Today, many factories try every shortcut possible to speed up production. Machine-drying is one of these shortcuts.
But as for me—I prefer letting time do the work, slowly and naturally.
After all, moxibustion is a profoundly traditional healing practice. It deserves to return to its roots, untouched by excessive modern technology.
Just like how the authentic flavors of traditional cuisine are so hard to find nowadays.
One of my old high school classmates once said I’m a bit crazy—too stubborn.
Indeed, in my pursuit of making the best moxa sticks, I often come across as harsh, even to family members who don’t always understand.
But the former factory director understands my devotion. I know he does.