Wenxi Lotus Root

Wenxi Lotus Root

Wenxi Lotus Root is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Wenxi Lotus Root is a specialty of Wenxi County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. Known for its jade-like whiteness, delicate texture, crisp and delicious taste, and rich nutritional value, it has long been hailed as a "luxury vegetable." Wenxi Lotus Root is a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The lotus roots from the old revolutionary base area of Wenxi in Shanxi Province are jade-white, delicately textured, crisp and tasty, and highly nutritious, and have long been hailed as a "luxury vegetable." As a local specialty, the cultivation of lotus roots here dates back 5,000 years. Thanks to Wenxi’s unique water quality, soil conditions, and traditional varieties, the roots are high in starch and offer various health benefits. They are "porous, fine-textured, white, and crisp," giving rise to the saying, "Wenxi lotus root — lots of holes." During festivals, weddings, funerals, and banquets, it is considered a treat to enjoy Wenxi lotus root on the dining table. It can be stir-fried, served cold, deep-fried, or used as filling in dumplings, lending itself to over ten to twenty delicious dishes. Particularly popular are sweet-and-sour lotus root, candied lotus root, and meat-stirred lotus root, which are especially loved by guests. Some skilled chefs can slice the root so thinly that it’s said to be able to thread through a needle, and when stir-fried, it is regarded as a premium delicacy. The seeds of Wenxi lotus root are not only large but also plump and fleshy, offering excellent nutrition. The lotus seed soup made from them is also considered a high-quality dish. Both the lotus root and its seeds are excellent traditional Chinese medicines, effective in treating nephritis, qi deficiency, malnutrition, and other conditions. In recent years, guided by the “One Village, One Product” initiative, the county has seen the emergence of specialized lotus root production villages such as Cangdi and Guanzhuang in Dongzhen Town, Sucun in Hedi Town, and Jiaping in Tongcheng Town, along with several professional cooperatives. While focusing on the development of high-quality traditional varieties, superior strains from Jiangsu and Hubei have also been introduced. Currently, the county’s lotus root planting area has exceeded 2,000 mu, with total output reaching several million kilograms, and sales extending across the province and neighboring regions. In 2007, the Guanzhuang lotus root was registered under the “Dongzhen Guanzhuang” trademark, and both the production base and the product obtained Ministry of Agriculture pollution-free certification. It won the “Famous and High-Quality Product Award” at the 8th Yuncheng Agricultural Expo in 2008. The lotus root from Sucun in Hedi Town was also registered under the “Jinwang” brand in 2007, with special boxed and premium-packed lotus roots now being staple holiday dishes and high-end gifts.

　　In 2013, the “Wenxi Lotus Root” applied for by the Su Village Jinyu Lotus Root Professional Cooperative of Wenxi County passed the review of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, and was granted national geographical indication registration protection.

　　Su Village Jinyu Lotus Root Professional Cooperative of Wenxi County

　　Location:

　　2013

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected geographic area for Wenxi Lotus Root covers the entire territory of Wenxi County in southern Shanxi Province, including thirteen townships such as Tongcheng Town, Guojiazhuang Town, Hedi Town, and Dongzhen Town. Its geographical coordinates are between 110°59′32″ – 111°37′29″ east longitude and 35°9′38″ – 35°34′11″ north latitude, with an elevation ranging from 450 to 1,572 meters. The region spans 57.55 km from east to west and 45.3 km from north to south, covering a protected area of 500 hectares.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Wenxi Lotus Root is a shallow-water variety. Its rhizomes grow horizontally, are thick and fleshy, with swollen internodes. A typical main root has 3–4 sections, generally rooted 60–80 cm deep, with internodes 15–20 cm long and a diameter of 6–8 cm. It contains multiple longitudinal air holes. Compared to varieties from other regions, Wenxi lotus root has a smooth, silvery-white skin, is thick and robust, contains no fiber residue, has minimal stringiness, tastes crisp and sweet when raw, and remarkably has one more air hole than other varieties. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Wenxi Lotus Root is rich in nutrients, containing starch, vitamin C, and other trace elements. Its moisture content is 73–76%, starch content 15–16.5%, vitamin C 55.8–57.6 mg, edible fiber 9.7–10.2%, crude polysaccharides 1.3–1.5%, and total flavonoids 0.06–0.08%. 3. Safety Requirements: In accordance with the pollution-free aquatic vegetable industry standard NY/T 5238-2005, the environmental standards for pollution-free vegetable production areas NY 5010-2006, as well as the pesticide safety use guideline GB 4285, the rational pesticide use guideline GB/T 8321, and other relevant standards and requirements.