Duckling Pond Lotus Roots

Duckling Pond Lotus Roots

　　Duckling Pond Lotus Roots

　　Lotus roots are one of the most common aquatic plants, flourishing easily in lakes and ponds across southern China. However, those grown in Duckling Pond of Laizhou are truly unique, considered top-tier delicacies among lotus roots.

　　The ancient Changhe River, located south of Qiwu and Yahe villages in the northwest of Laizhou and Laowan, was historically known as Duckling Pond. Research indicates that before the Ming Dynasty, Duckling Pond reached west to Shuangxi River near Yuanzi Port, serving as a channel through which water from Baidang Lake flowed into Chenyao Lake and then to the Yangtze River. Later, when Jiangjiawei and Wubowei dikes blocked the Shuangxi River and enclosed the land for farming, the nearly ten-mile-long section of the Changhe River became an inland lake, hence also referred to as “Duck Eight Li.” The bed of Duckling Pond is flat, the surface wide, and the depth remains relatively consistent. Over the years, repeated flooding by river and lake waters deposited rich layers of sandy mud and organic silt, creating deep, fertile sediment teeming with nutrients. Groundwater seeps continuously into the river, preventing it from drying up even in drought years. With minimal fluctuation in water and mud temperatures, the pond provides ideal growing conditions for lotus roots, resulting in superior quality compared to those from other rivers or ponds. Even when harvested the following spring, the roots remain snow-white and pristine, with a crisp, fresh flavor intact.

　　Lotus roots are a treasure from root to tip — the seeds are also called lotus stones. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, regular consumption of lotus seeds can nourish the spleen, calm the spirit, promote longevity, strengthen the stomach, consolidate vitality, fortify muscles and bones, and benefit ears and eyesight. Crushed and cooked with rice into porridge or congee, they offer a fragrant taste and health benefits. The roots themselves relieve heat and thirst, disperse blood stasis, and promote tissue regeneration. Long-term consumption is said to bring joy to the heart, calm anger, regulate bowel movements, aid digestion, and neutralize alcohol toxins. When juiced and consumed, it alleviates chest tightness and irritability while stimulating appetite. Lotus nodes are a highly frequently used herbal medicine, effective in treating coughing up blood, vomiting blood, bloody dysentery, and uterine bleeding.

　　The lotus root is known as the “spirit root,” born in mud yet unstained, pure white and unblemished, soft in texture yet capable of piercing the firm, its pores ingeniously delicate with fine threads hidden within. It grows from tender shoots into stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits, only to sprout anew, continuing the cycle of life all year round. When cooked, lotus roots can be mixed with rice and boiled to serve as a staple for daily meals. Glutinous rice powder mixed with meat and lotus roots, then steamed, is commonly known as “Tongcai Fried Meat” — with “tongcai” being a colloquial term for lotus root, symbolizing smooth success in all endeavors. For raw consumption, choose fresh, tender lotus roots, slice them into rounds, arrange on a plate, and sprinkle with sugar — this makes for a famous cold dish. Both of these dishes feature lotus roots as the main ingredient and are traditional delicacies served at local wedding and funeral banquets. The starch processed from lotus roots, commonly known as “lotus root powder,” is an excellent food for both the elderly and children, and also serves as a premium cooking ingredient.

　　In summer, lotus leaves spread like canopies and umbrellas, standing tall above the water without being submerged, lush green and pristine, embodying a blend of natural beauty. Red and white lotuses bloom here in succession, vying in splendor. Their fragrance, close-up, is intoxicating; from afar, it remains pure and refreshing — “to be admired from afar, but not to be profaned.” Duckling Pond lotus roots are both delicious and delightful to behold, truly a unique gem of Laizhou, a treasured land along the river.