榨菜一詞最(zui)早出現于(yu)(yu)清(qing)朝光緒二十五年(公元(yuan)1899),由涪(fu)陵(ling)商人邱壽(shou)安命名,意即“經鹽腌榨制過的(de)(de)咸(xian)菜”;并于(yu)(yu)當年首次將自己命名的(de)(de)這(zhe)種(zhong)咸(xian)菜產品投放宜昌市場獲得成功。這(zhe)是“榨菜”之名和“榨菜業”的(de)(de)緣起。據清(qing)道光二十五年(1845年)《涪(fu)州志 物(wu)產》中(zhong)關于(yu)(yu)“包(bao)(bao)包(bao)(bao)菜”的(de)(de)記載,以及有關的(de)(de)民間傳說(shuo)推測,今(jin)涪(fu)陵(ling)區境內(nei)最(zui)晚在公元(yuan)18世(shi)紀已出現青菜頭(tou)(即包(bao)(bao)包(bao)(bao)菜)的(de)(de)廣(guang)泛種(zhong)植和加工(gong)成咸(xian)菜供家(jia)庭食用。因青菜頭(tou)腌菜風味獨(du)特,是眾多咸(xian)菜制品中(zhong)的(de)(de)珍(zhen)品,具(ju)有巨大的(de)(de)歷史價值、文化(hua)價值、經濟價值。
民間(jian)原始手(shou)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)制作(zuo)榨菜雖然其品質優于現(xian)代(dai)機械化加(jia)(jia)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)榨菜,由(you)于其全憑人(ren)(ren)(ren)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)肩挑(tiao)背磨、人(ren)(ren)(ren)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)踩壓(ya)和(he)手(shou)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)操作(zuo),工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)藝(yi)繁雜、勞(lao)動(dong)強度大。更重(zhong)要的(de)是制作(zuo)原始手(shou)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)榨菜的(de)老藝(yi)人(ren)(ren)(ren)已所(suo)剩無幾,隨著市(shi)場(chang)經濟的(de)發(fa)(fa)展,農村勞(lao)動(dong)力轉移,三峽庫區河灘地淹沒,現(xian)代(dai)化生產加(jia)(jia)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)水平(ping)的(de)不斷提高,這一寶(bao)貴的(de)傳統(tong)手(shou)工(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)制作(zuo)技藝(yi)面臨(lin)失傳,為了繼承和(he)發(fa)(fa)揚涪陵區、重(zhong)慶市(shi)乃至我國馳名中外的(de)非(fei)物質文化遺(yi)產,必須(xu)采取有力措施加(jia)(jia)以保(bao)護。