West Lake Lotus Root Starch

West Lake Lotus Root Starch

　　　Product origin: Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province

　　　　Product features: Crystal clear, pleasantly mild in taste, uniquely flavorful, and rich in nutrients.

　　　　Product ingredients: Contains carbohydrates, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins.

　　　　Product benefits: Stimulates saliva and appetite, nourishes blood and qi, and promotes beauty and health.

　　　　Product introduction: West Lake Lotus Root Starch is one of the famous local specialties of Hangzhou. It has a unique flavor and is highly nutritious. The main production area extends from outside the Gongshan Gate of Hangzhou to Yuhang County, with the product from Sanjia Village in Tangqi being particularly well-known. In ancient times, it was supplied as a “tribute starch” to the imperial court. Lotus root is the underground stem of the lotus flower, and the specially processed starch made from it takes the form of thin slices, with a fine and smooth texture and a white color tinged with red. To consume, simply mix it with a small amount of cold water first, then stir in boiling water to form a paste. Once brewed, the starch becomes crystal clear and has a mild and refreshing taste. It helps stimulate the appetite and generate body fluids, while also nourishing blood and boosting qi. It is an excellent tonic suitable for infants, the elderly, and patients.

　　　　Product history: West Lake Lotus Root Starch is a traditional specialty of Zhejiang, renowned alongside Longjing tea, Hangzhou silk, and Hangbai chrysanthemum. It gets its name from the abundant lotus flowers and lotus roots produced around West Lake in Hangzhou. Historical records indicate that in ancient times, West Lake Lotus Root Starch was produced in the area from the Gongshan Gate of Hangzhou to Sanjia Village in Yuhang. The starch from this region was the most famous and, by the Southern Song Dynasty, had become a tribute product for emperors throughout the dynasties, known as “Sanjia Village Lotus Root Starch.”

　　　　The faster development of West Lake Lotus Root Starch occurred in the mid-1980s. At that time, only a few producers—such as Jinhua Subsidiary Food Factory, Jinhua County Xietang Subsidiary Food Products Factory, Jinhua County Xinghuo Food Factory, and Jinhua County Jiangnan Food Factory—were manufacturing and selling products under the name “West Lake Lotus Root Starch,” while the Sanjia Village product in Hangzhou was branded as “Sanjia Village Lotus Root Starch.” In the Hangzhou market, Jinhua-produced West Lake Lotus Root Starch held about an 80% market share. By the mid-1990s, with the emergence of instant lotus root starch (known as West Lake Lotus Root Porridge), the “West Lake Lotus Root Starch” category saw even faster growth. Multiple Hangzhou-based manufacturers emerged, including “Tianhe” West Lake Lotus Root Porridge and “Paradise” West Lake Lotus Root Starch. Especially during the 1997 trademark dispute over the name “West Lake,” there was further significant development and an increase in the number of producers.