Liye White Lotus Seeds

Liye White Lotus Seeds

　　Liye White Lotus is one of the traditional and renowned local products of Jiande City, flourishing in the surrounding areas centered around Liye Village in Daciyan Town. The most famous variety comes from Liye—its pith-removed white lotus seeds—and today all produced seeds are of the pith-removed type. Historical records indicate that lotus cultivation in Jiande has a history of over 350 years, with large-scale planting in Liye Village dating back to around 100 years.

　　Jiande City is located on the southern wing of the Yangtze River Delta, in the western part of Zhejiang Province, along the middle and upper reaches of the Qiantang River. The history of lotus cultivation can be traced back a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty, when lotus ponds were built within Muzhou City, marking the beginning of local lotus farming. During the Southern Song Dynasty, seed lotuses were planted by West Lake in Shouchang County and were initially known as “Shou Lotus.” Later, when a county official visited Liye and noticed the terrain—with Lion Mountain to the north and fields facing south, sheltered from the west wind and endowed with fertile soil—he identified it as ideal for seed lotus cultivation. As a result, seed lotuses were grown in Houmingfan, Liye, producing large, powdery-white seeds that gained widespread fame and came to be called Liye White Lotus. Yang Guizhi (1162–1233), the empress of Emperor Ningzong of the Southern Song Dynasty and a native of Chun’an in Yanzhou, had a nephew named Yang Gu who resided in Yangxi, Jiande (now Yangxi), and was enfeoffed as the Prince of Xin’an. As a result, the Yanzhou Prefecture presented Liye White Lotus to the imperial court, where it was designated an imperial tribute. This tradition continued into the Ming Dynasty, as documented in the Yanzhou Prefecture Annals. Among the imperial court dishes was the “Eight Delicacies Soup,” for which Liye White Lotus was the primary ingredient. In 1998, Liye White Lotus was awarded the Gold Award for Excellent Agricultural Products in Zhejiang Province, and in 2002, it received the Zhejiang Famous-Brand Product designation. From 2002 to 2007, it won the Gold Award at the Zhejiang Agricultural Expo for six consecutive years.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The production area encompasses 15 towns (subdistricts) and 128 administrative villages across Meicheng Town, Qiantan Town, Sandu Town, Dayang Town, Yangcunqiao Town, Xiaya Town, Lianhua Town, Shouchang Town, Hangtou Town, Daciyan Town, Datong Town, Lijia Town, Xin’anjiang Subdistrict, Yangxi Subdistrict, and Genglou Subdistrict in Jiande City. It spans from Yangcunqiao in the north, to the confluence of the Xin’an River, Fuchun River, and Lan River in the east, to Hangtou Town, Datong Town, and Lijia Town in the west, and to Daciyan Town in the south. The region lies between 29°13′ and 29°46′ north latitude, and 118°54′ and 119°45′ east longitude, with planting zones situated in river valley plains below 200 meters in elevation. The protected area covers 100,000 mu, with a planting area of 12,000 mu and a yield of 1,200 tons in 2012.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) Sensory Characteristics of Liye White Lotus and Differences from Other White Lotus Varieties Liye White Lotus is characterized by its white color, glossy appearance, large and round grains, ease of cooking, ability to remain intact even with prolonged boiling, clear and slightly yellow broth, strong fragrance, smooth texture upon consumption, sweet aftertaste, and absence of astringency. It can also be eaten fresh. Additionally, it is highly nutritious and suitable for both culinary and medicinal uses. Compared with white lotus varieties from other regions, Liye White Lotus stands out in the following aspects in terms of sensory qualities, flavor, and physical-chemical properties: 1. Appearance Characteristics:  Shape: Liye White Lotus seeds are round or oval, uniformly plump, with an average length of 1.3–1.4 cm and width of 1.1–1.3 cm, and a length-to-width ratio of 1.2–1.3. This is one of the key quality indicators distinguishing Liye White Lotus from those of other origins.  Color: The kernel is milky white with a slight yellow tint and a glossy sheen, whereas lotus seeds from other regions tend to have a more yellowish hue and lack luster.  Size: The average weight of 100 Liye White Lotus seeds ranges from 96g to 108g. 2. Unique Flavor:  Aroma: After drying, the lotus kernels contain rich aromatic oils, giving off a strong and pleasant fragrance. When cooked, the aroma becomes even more intense and enticing, stimulating the appetite.  Ease of Cooking: Due to its higher starch content, Liye White Lotus cooks easily, remains intact after prolonged boiling, and yields a clear, pure broth. It has a delicate, glutinous, and delicious taste. Notably, it can be soaked in 90°C hot water for just half an hour before consumption, a feature that sets it apart from other regional lotus seeds. (2) Physical-Chemical Indicators of Liye White Lotus and Differences from Other White Lotus Varieties Liye White Lotus is rich in nutrition and offers high medicinal value. It is particularly abundant in protein and amino acids. Testing shows that Liye White Lotus contains 17.1–20g of protein per 100g, which is higher than the protein content of ordinary lotus seeds (around 7.8%). It also contains various amino acids, including lysine, which helps regulate metabolic balance, stimulates the secretion of pepsin and gastric acid, enhances gastric juice secretion, improves appetite, promotes growth and development in children, increases calcium absorption and accumulation in the body, and accelerates bone growth. Furthermore, the production area of Liye White Lotus is located in a selenium-rich zone. Testing indicates a selenium content of 0.21–0.33 μg/100g, higher than that found in lotus seeds from other regions. 3. Safety Requirements: Production must comply with the national agricultural industry standard NY/T 1504-2007 for Lotus Seeds.