Xishui Nine-Hole Lotus Root

Xishui Nine-Hole Lotus Root

　　Xishui Nine-Hole Lotus Root is a specialty of Xishui County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, and one of the Four Famous Products of Eastern Hubei. It is a rare variety of lotus root, having two more holes than ordinary lotus roots, making it the world’s only “nine-hole lotus root.”

　　Its skin is jade-white, the root is plump and round, the nodes are hairless, the flesh is crisp and juicy, rich in iron and calcium, and abundant in sugar and starch. Each root typically has four or five sections, with tender texture and tender yet flaky flesh. When eaten raw, it is sweet, crisp, and fragrant, helping to cool the body and relieve alcohol. When cooked, it retains its color when stir-fried and doesn’t become cloudy when stewed. It has a rich, sweet taste and a unique flavor. The “Nine-Hole Lotus Root Powder” from Zhima Lake is fine and free of impurities. Crystal meatballs made with it are crystal-clear, smooth but not sticky, refreshing and delicious.

　　Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has been listed as an imperial tribute. This lotus root is different from those grown elsewhere. Other regions’ lotus roots are cylindrical, with an old yellow skin, many sections, and hairy nodes, and they are fibrous when eaten raw. In contrast, Zhima Lake lotus roots are thick and sturdy, about two feet long per section, square in shape with grooves on the surface, white skin that is moist like white jade, no hairy nodes, and no rusty discoloration. Their color remains unchanged even after ten or more days of storage. Eaten raw, they are sweet and crisp; when stir-fried, they retain their color; and when used in soups, the broth remains clear and fragrant, offering nourishing benefits. Famous dishes include Honey-Glazed Lotus Root, Steamed Lotus Root with Rice Flour, and Lotus Root Powder Balls.

　　Legend has it that long ago, a crane with a bright red crown and snow-white feathers flew up from the turbulent South China Sea carrying a single lotus seed in its beak, heading north toward the Yellow River. As the crane flew over the Yangtze River and wanted to rest, it opened its beak—and the emerald-green, glistening lotus seed fell into Zhima Lake in Bash River, Xishui County. The following year, a unique type of lotus root grew in Zhima Lake, differing in both taste and shape from lotus roots elsewhere. Later generations called it “Zhima Lake Nine-Hole Lotus Root.” To this day, only Zhima Lake can produce this type of lotus root. Celebrated poets such as Su Dongpo and Lu You once visited Zhima Lake and tasted the nine-hole lotus root, leaving behind many beautiful poems and writings. Every summer, Zhima Lake is covered with lush green lotus leaves, red and white blossoms, and the lake surface is shrouded in lingering white mist that does not disperse for weeks, creating a scene that delights visitors. Former Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka once spoke highly of the “Zhima Lake Nine-Hole Lotus Root” during his visit to China.