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 or 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