Shicheng White Lotus

Shicheng White Lotus

Shicheng White Lotus is a protected geographical indication product.

　　　　Shicheng has long been known as the "Hometown of Lotus." Its white lotus is renowned both domestically and internationally for its snow-white color, large grains, delicious taste, fragrant aroma, easy peeling, hollowness, rich nutrition, and wide medicinal applications, making it a best-selling specialty product. When midsummer arrives, it’s always the season when lotus flowers bloom in competition and the fragrance of white lotus fills the air. Driving into Shicheng’s lotus-growing areas and gazing out the window, you’ll see, in the distance and nearby, row upon row and stretch after stretch of neatly arranged lotus fields. The flowers blaze like red flames, the leaves spread like emerald waves, reflecting each other brilliantly under the sunlight. A gentle breeze blows, the green waves ripple, the fragrance wafts through the air, refreshing the heart and lungs. Shicheng white lotus is rich in starch, protein, and raffinose, making it an excellent medicinal and nourishing food. In lotus seeds, the carbohydrate content reaches 62%, the protein content is as high as 16%, and the levels of calcium, phosphorus, iron, as well as vitamins B1, B2, and carotene are also quite abundant. Li Shizhen’s *Compendium of Materia Medica* states that lotus seeds “nourish heart and kidney, strengthen the stomach, consolidate vital energy, fortify bones and muscles, benefit deficiencies, improve hearing and vision, dispel cold and dampness, stop chronic diarrhea and dysentery, treat red and white discharge, and various bleeding disorders in women.” When lotus seeds are “pounded and mixed with rice to make congee, they lighten the body, boost qi, and promote strength.” White lotus is not only rich in nutrition but also a treasure in its entirety. The lotus seeds are the main harvest from cultivating lotus, while lotus plumule (lotus heart), lotus stamen (male part), lotus rhizome nodes, lotus leaves, lotus receptacles, flower stalks, lotus flowers, and lotus roots (lotus rhizomes) can all be used medicinally. Lotus, lotus root, and lotus stems can all be served as delicious dishes on the table. (Ganzhou)

　　Shicheng is nationally renowned as the "Hometown of White Lotus in China." It borders Ninghua in Fujian to the east, borders Changting in Fujian and Ruijin in the same province to the south, is located in the subtropical monsoon humid zone, neighbors Ningdu to the west, and leans against Guangchang to the north, covering a total area of 1,581.53 square kilometers. It governs 5 towns, 5 townships, and 140 administrative villages, with a total population of 291,000. It is a typical hilly and low-mountainous region.

　　　　Shicheng is the source of the Gan River and one of the birthplaces of Hakka culture. It boasts a rich collection of natural landscapes and cultural relics, with abundant cultural tourism resources. There are cultural attractions such as the well-preserved Baofu Temple Pagoda from the Song Dynasty in southern Jiangnan, the prison of the Young Heavenly King of the Taiping Rebellion, the Yongning Bridge in Yanling, the Wulongyan cliff inscriptions, and the Fangshi Pavilion in Yangfang Village. There are also beautiful natural sights such as Tongtianzhai, the Ganjiangyuan Nature Reserve, Xihuashan, Ruri Mountain, and Donghuashan. The Tongtianzhai Scenic Area features peculiar peaks and oddly shaped rocks, each with its own charm, making it one of the finest natural wonders. The Ganjiangyuan Nature Reserve is covered with ancient trees and teeming with rare birds and animals, making it a rare destination for scientific exploration and adventure.

　　　　With a mild climate and abundant rainfall — annual precipitation of 1,400–1,900 mm — four distinct seasons, gentle warmth, and humidity, an average annual temperature of 18.3°C, and an average frost-free period of 284 days, Shicheng provides ideal natural conditions for developing specialty and high-efficiency agriculture such as white lotus. Shicheng white lotus is large and round, rich in nutrition, and highly praised by visitors from all over. The planting area of white lotus remains stable at around 100,000 mu, making Shicheng one of the counties in Jiangxi Province with the largest planting area and the highest level of technology.

　　Quality and Technical Requirements for Shicheng White Lotus

　　I. Source of Seeds

　　Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn).

　　II. Site Conditions

　　Soil type is red soil, with organic matter content ≥2.0%, plowing layer thickness ≥30 cm, and pH value between 6.5 and 7.5.

　　III. Cultivation and Management

　　1. Seed Lotus Rhizome: Select mother or daughter rhizomes that are flat and stout, brightly colored, with short internodes, no pests or disease spots, no damage, intact terminal buds, and having three or more nodes for mother rhizomes or two or more nodes for daughter rhizomes.

　　2. Planting: From late March to early April each year, choose sunny and warm weather, plant the seed rhizome with the terminal bud facing the center of the field, bury it diagonally at a 45° angle into the soil at a depth of 10–15 cm, with a planting density of 150–220 buds per 667 m² (mu).

　　3. Fertilization: Use well-rotted organic fertilizer as base fertilizer, applying ≥2,000 kg per 667 m² (mu), with chemical fertilizer used as topdressing, and applied in stages according to the principle of “light fertilizer for seedlings, heavy for flowers, and complete for seeds.”

　　4. Irrigation: Follow the principle of “shallow water in early stage, deep water in middle stage, shallow water in late stage.” Maintain 3–6 cm of shallow water in the early growth stage, 7–10 cm during the flowering and fruiting period, and 15–20 cm of flowing deep water during the peak summer heat. After lotus seed harvest, maintain shallow water to ensure the safe overwintering of lotus roots.

　　5. Environmental and Safety Requirements: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and the like must comply with national regulations and must not pollute the environment.

　　IV. Harvesting and Processing

　　1. Harvesting: From mid-June to late September, when the lotus pods turn greenish-brown and the lotus seeds show tea-brown patches on the surface.

　　2. Processing: Complete de-seeding, shelling, peeling, and de-hearting within 12 hours after harvesting.

　　(1) Fresh Lotus Seeds: Clean the de-hearted lotus seeds, then quick-freeze, package, and refrigerate.

　　(2) Dried Lotus Seeds: Rinse the de-hearted lotus seeds clean with water, place them on drying sieves for drying (or sieve while drying). Initially control the baking temperature between 80–90°C. When the surface of the lotus seeds dries, reduce the temperature to 40–50°C and continue drying until the moisture content is ≤11%. After baking, allow the seeds to cool before packaging.

　　V. Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory Characteristics: Fresh lotus seeds are oval, oval-round, or round in shape, uniformly plump. They are milky white, glossy, fragrant, and easy to cook. Dried lotus seeds are oval, oval-round, or round in shape, milky white, glossy, with air pockets inside, hard in texture, faint in scent, and sweet in taste.

　　2. Physicochemical Indicators: Fresh lotus seeds have a moisture content ≥30%, protein content ≥8%, and starch content ≥21%; dried lotus seeds have a moisture content ≤11%, protein content ≥20%, and starch content ≥45%.

　　3. Safety and Other Quality Technical Requirements: Product safety and other quality technical requirements must comply with national regulations.