Tien Chu

"Tianchu" redirects here. For the band, see Vajara.

A Cityflyer bus with Tien Chu advertisement in Hong Kong

Tien Chu Ve-Tsin Chemical Limited (Chinese: 天厨味精; pinyin: Tiānchú Wèijīng) is a Chinese manufacturer of honey by-products, food chemicals and additives including monosodium glutamate (MSG).[1]

Founded in Shanghai in 1921, the firm also had operations in Hong Kong (established in 1937). Wu Zhifan became CEO of Tien Chu Ve-Tsin.[2]

Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Tien Chu Ve-Tsin became a state owned enterprise. It is currently owned by Shanghai Industrial Holdings.[3]

The Hong Kong unit became Tien Chu Ve-Tsin Chemical Limited of Hong Kong in the 1950s, but it reunited with the mainland parent firm in 1981. The factory was located in Tokwawan, Kowloon.[1]

Tien Chu was awarded a gold prize at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago.[1]

Tien Chu products are now found overseas in Chinese supermarkets and sold in plastic bags or blue and gold tins.[1]

The Tokwawan location closed and demolished in 1999 to make way for Sky Tower residential block.[4]

Rival and larger MSG maker is Ajinomoto of Japan.[1] Ajinomoto began 12 years before (1909) Tien Chu with offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Facilities

• Shanghai - Xintianshi International Trade Company
• Fenshui, Tonglu, Hangzhou - Honey Source Health Products Company
• Tsing Yi, New Territories, Hong Kong - HK regional head office
• Shenzhen

See also

• Adenosine monophosphate
• Disodium glutamate
• Disodium inosinate
• Glutamate flavoring
• Glutamic acid
• Guanosine monophosphate
• Inosinic acid
• Kikunae Ikeda
• Monopotassium glutamate
• Umami

References

1. The Tien Chu (Hong Kong) Company Limited. "香港天廚". www.tienchu.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
2. "XU BEIHONG (1895-1953)". Retrieved 2013-05-30.
3. Chinese Investment in Manufacturing^[dead link‍]
4. "To Kwa Wan's $6b project begins".

External links

• Tien Chu Homepage