Honghu White Lotus Seeds

Honghu White Lotus Seeds

　　White lotus seeds are a specialty of China’s southern lake regions, with Hubei Province — known as the “Province of a Thousand Lakes” — being the leading producer. Jianli County, dotted with rivers and lakes and home to vast expanses of blooming lotuses, boasts fertile soil and abundant rainfall. The lotus seeds produced here are large, plump, and highly nutritious. Over 200 years ago, they were listed as an imperial tribute.

It is said that during the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong era, Wang Linyuan from Guanyin Temple in Jianli County passed the martial arts examination and was appointed as an imperial bodyguard to Emperor Qianlong. He was later promoted to the rank of palace guard. On one occasion, he led troops on a military campaign by imperial decree. The campaign was a great success from the outset, and Emperor Qianlong hosted a banquet to honor the meritorious officers. The feast was lavish, featuring chicken, duck, game, and delicacies from land and sea. However, there was one dish on the table — a plate of lotus seeds — that no one touched. Wang Linyuan couldn’t understand why. Since it was a common dish from his hometown and had been placed in front of him, he ate heartily. Before long, he had nearly finished the entire plate. Someone sitting next to him reminded him, “This is a rare and precious dish. It’s only for viewing, not eating.” Wang Linyuan smiled and said, “No worries. Lotus seeds are everywhere in my hometown. When I get the chance to go back, I’ll bring several boatloads for all of you to try.” The other guests, all from northern China, laughed at his bold claim.

Some time later, Wang Linyuan returned home just as the lotus seeds in Honghu were ripe. He asked fellow villagers to harvest several boatloads of lotus seeds from Honghu Lake. After shelling, removing the hearts, and selecting only the largest and plumpest white lotus seeds, he shipped a full boatload to the capital. When the imperial officials saw that Wang Linyuan had indeed brought a boat full of glistening white lotus seeds, they were filled with admiration. Emperor Qianlong was especially impressed and delighted. He personally issued an edict designating the Honghu white lotus seeds from Jianli as an imperial tribute. From then on, they were sent to the imperial court every year, a practice that continued until the era of Empress Dowager Cixi.

Lotus seeds are oval-shaped, encased in a brown outer shell, with a tender green core nestled between two halves. There are two types: red lotus and white lotus. Red lotus seeds are wild, also called lake lotus seeds, with higher yield but smaller size. White lotus seeds are cultivated, also known as garden lotus seeds, larger and plumper with milky-white flesh, slightly lower yield but superior quality.

Lotus seeds are rich in starch, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, sugars, and various vitamins. They hold high nutritional and medicinal value. In ancient times, there was a saying, “Southern lotus is as valuable as northern ginseng.” Some even call them “lotus ginseng.”

Every part of the lotus seed is valuable. The outer skin can be used medicinally, the core can be brewed into tea, and the flesh can be made into lotus soup, desserts, or candied treats — sweet, delicious, and uniquely flavorful. It can also be used as an ingredient in both Chinese and Western pastries. Dishes like Eight-Treasure Rice or Eight-Treasure Porridge, made with lotus seeds, glutinous rice, red dates, peanuts, and mung beans, are sweet and beloved by both Chinese and foreign diners. These are popular both domestically and abroad, making them treasured gifts. Various canned products made with lotus seeds, combined with ingredients like white fungus, Job’s tears, and gorgon fruit, offer benefits such as strengthening the spleen, nourishing kidneys, regulating qi, and enriching blood. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, “Medical practitioners consume it as food, capable of preventing numerous ailments. The lotus has a sweet taste, warm nature, and a fragrant aroma. It embodies the essence of cultivated crops and is the fruit of the spleen.” Therefore, in ancient times, those suffering from disharmony between the heart and kidneys or exhaustion-induced turbidity often drank lotus seed soup to clear the heart. Those needing to nourish the heart and kidneys or replenish essence and blood would take Rui Lian Pills.

The harvesting of lotus seeds is also a delightful experience. Every midsummer, vast expanses of emerald green lotus leaves stretch as far as the eye can see, dotted with pure white and pink lotus blossoms. Lotus-picking maidens row with one hand while plucking lotus seeds with the other. The melodious tune of the *Lotus Picking Melody* drifts across the cool lake breeze, stirring the heart and soul.

After Jianli’s Honghu lotus seeds were designated as an imperial tribute, they were sent annually to the imperial court. As a result, Jianli’s reputation as a major producer of lotus seeds spread far and wide. During harvest season, merchants from all over flocked to Jianli to purchase in bulk. More than 200 years later today, Jianli-grown lotus seeds are exported as far as Southeast Asia, becoming one of the county’s main agricultural exports. (Jianli)