The Hui Chinese ink stick is highly regarded as the top southern ink stick within China. Also known as the Anhui ink stick, it is applauded for its thick, full bodied consistency. It originates from the ancient town of Huzhou which is now known as Shexian in the Anhui province.

Liquid ink is released from the ink stick when it is rubbed on an ink stone. It needs to be held tightly and rubbed at the right pressure to creative the prefect consistency of ink.

Within the early dynasties granite was used for writing. In the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), ink was created to replace granite as the mineral could not meet the growing demand for writing materials. Originally, most ink was made from the north. After the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265), the south started to overtake the north in ink production due to its abundance of natural resources, especially pine trees.

The Hui ink stick was created by the Li family who started producing ink sticks with soot from the pine trees on Huangshan Mountain. They perfected the Hui ink stick by adding the aromatics from Chinese herbs. The ink automatically became thicker and easier to create elegant and rich calligraphic art. The formula was honored by the Tang emperor Li Yu who set up numerous workshops around China to produce the Hui ink stick.

Even more ingredients were added to the Hui ink stick during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties, which included pork lard and vegetable oil. The main raw materials used today are pine soot, oil and lacquer.

In modern times, ink sticks are also admired for their aesthetic value and are becoming increasingly popular as an art form. The ink sticks often feature images and poems by famous artists and are kept in a stain finished box. Hui Ink sticks are still in high demand across the globe and are sought after by both calligraphers and art collectors.