Guilin Water Chestnuts

Guilin Water Chestnuts

　　Water chestnuts, also known as horsehoof beans, grow in paddy fields. Though produced across Guangxi, those from Guilin are the most famous. Guilin water chestnuts are flat and round in shape, with a bright brownish-red skin and snow-white, smooth flesh that is sweet, juicy, tender, and free of grit. The renowned writer Lu Xun once wrote in a letter to Chen Cisheng of Guangxi, expressing his admiration: “I’ve long heard of the fame of Guilin water chestnuts, but unfortunately I had no opportunity to visit and taste their exquisite flavor. As a compromise, I could only make do with Shanghai water chestnuts (known as such here), which are smaller.” Guilin water chestnuts have enjoyed a prestigious reputation since ancient times and were even offered as tribute to emperors during the Qing Dynasty.　　Water chestnuts are a beloved fruit snack, rich in starch, vitamins, proteins, fats, and sugars, and they also offer medicinal benefits. Li Shizhen noted in *Compendium of Materia Medica* that they “help relieve thirst and joint heat, warm the middle and boost energy,” “stimulate the appetite,” “strengthen the digestive tract,” and “aid in digesting stale food, making them suitable to eat after meals.” Additionally, water chestnuts can be used as an ingredient in various dishes—such as stir-fried pig liver, stir-fried pork slices, stir-fried chicken, or stir-fried duck—adding a unique flavor. (Guilin)