Shaoxing Big Water Chestnut

Shaoxing Big Water Chestnut

　　Product Name: Shaoxing Big Water Chestnut

　　Place of Origin: Shaoxing, Zhejiang

　　Product Characteristics: Grows underwater and is protected from being eaten by fish due to its long, sharp horns

　　Product Composition: Contains starch, protein, glucose, fat, various vitamins, carotene, as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron

　　Product Season: Harvested in mid to late September

　　Product Function: Can treat pain in the lower back and legs, numbness throughout the body, conditions caused by rheumatism invading the body; elderly people who regularly eat water chestnut powder porridge can strengthen their spleen and stomach, fortify their knees and legs, and boost energy and vitality.

　　Product History: Shaoxing has a long history of cultivating water chestnuts. As early as the Tang Dynasty, water chestnut cultivation was already quite common in Yuezhou. The Tang poet Zhu Qingyu wrote: “A light breeze on the lake, cool by the small railings, flipping water chestnuts and pondweeds fill the winding pond,” depicting the scenery of ancient Jianhu Lake’s water chestnut fields. The Qing Dynasty’s "Jiaqing Shanyin County Annals" recorded: “Water chestnuts are nowhere more abundantly produced than in Shanyin. Every August, boats full of water chestnuts gather all around Jianhu.”

　　Product Introduction: Shaoxing Big Water Chestnut is one of the city’s traditional specialties. Shaoxing is a watery land with crisscrossing rivers, widespread lakes, and fertile water quality—an ecological environment very suitable for the growth of big water chestnuts. As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, water chestnut cultivation in Shaoxing was already widespread. Zhu Qingyu (Tang Dynasty) wrote a poem about Jianhu Lake: “A light breeze on the lake, cool by the small railings, flipping water chestnuts and pondweeds fill the winding pond.” According to the "Jiatai Kuaiji Annals," it is recorded: “Four-cornered, three-cornered white water chestnuts with purple flowers that close during the day and open at night, shifting along with the moon, much like sunflowers follow the sun. Among those produced in Yue, the Luowen water chestnut is the largest—known as the 'waist water chestnut.'” This shows that people at the time were already very familiar with water chestnuts and had studied their biological characteristics. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, water chestnut cultivation in Shaoxing remained prosperous. The "Jiaqing Shanyin Annals" stated: “The people of Yue call the small ones 'thorn water chestnuts' and the large ones 'big water chestnuts'; the four-cornered ones are called 'sand-corner water chestnuts.' Nowhere are they more abundantly produced than in Shanyin. Every August, boats full of water chestnuts gather all around Jianhu.” The thorn water chestnut refers to wild water chestnuts. In the early 1950s, they were still flourishing in the area around Xiachahu, even clogging boat routes. After the liberation, the production of Shaoxing Big Water Chestnuts saw new development, with many new varieties introduced. The annual planting area never fell below 10,000 mu, and in peak years reached 20,000–30,000 mu, becoming a significant side income for farmers in the water towns. In recent years, the planted area has shrunk, now maintained at around 5,000 mu. It is mainly distributed in areas such as Jianhu, Mashan, Gaobu, Paogu, and Shengli districts and townships of Shaoxing County. In addition, some villages in the “lake areas” of Shangyu and Zhuji also have small-scale cultivation.