Xucang Snow Lotus Root

Xucang Snow Lotus Root

Xucang Snow Lotus Root is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces, Changxing is bordered by Taihu Lake to the east and backed by Tianmu Mountain to the west. It is a land of abundant produce and prosperous people, a fertile and auspicious place in the Hangjiahu region, long famed as the “Land of Fish and Rice” and the “Home of Silk.” Particularly interesting is the Xucang Snow Lotus Root produced in Lushan Township, situated in the water-networked plains of the southeastern part of the county—it has one more hole than ordinary lotus roots and is especially fragrant, soft, and delicious, making it a unique delicacy of Changxing.

　　　　Xucang Snow Lotus Root, also known as Changxing Snow Lotus Root, is grown in Wan Fish Pond in front of Huaqiangmen at Xucangqiao Village in Lushan Township, eastern Changxing. It earned its name due to its delicate texture and snow-white color, historically referred to as “Xucang Snow Lotus Root.” The lotus root is tender, crisp, juicy, and sweet, enjoying widespread fame. It is a major specialty of Changxing, ranking alongside the “Four Treasures of Changxing.” Xucang Snow Lotus Root has a long history. Legend has it that during the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, a farmer from the village once grew an extraordinarily large lotus root weighing 104 jin (approximately 52 kg), which was carefully wrapped in fragrant clay from Wan Fish Pond and sent directly to the capital as a tribute to Emperor Jiajing. Upon tasting it, the emperor was full of praise and generously rewarded the farmer with a pair of gold ingots. Unfortunately, by the time the shiny golden ingots reached the Zhejiang Provincial Government, they had been replaced with copper ones, and by the time they arrived at the Lushan Township Government, even those were swapped for stone versions. To this day, these stone ingots—having been progressively downgraded by officials at every level—remain angrily on display in front of Huaqiangmen at Xucangqiao Village in Lushan Township.

　　　　Xucang Snow Lotus Root is truly unique: it is over half longer than ordinary lotus roots, typically divided into three sections, with the middle section being of particularly high quality. Even more remarkably, Xucang Snow Lotus Root has one more hole than common varieties—while other types have nine holes, or at most ten, Xucang Snow Lotus Root has at least ten, and most often eleven. Moreover, when lotus roots from other regions are planted in Xucang, they gain an extra hole, while Xucang-grown lotus roots lose one when transplanted elsewhere. Experts attribute this primarily to the local water and soil conditions. The mud in Wan Fish Pond in front of Huaqiangmen in Gongqiangmen Village, Lushan Xucang, is a rare and precious type of fragrant clay, uniquely suited to the growth of snow lotus roots. Nowadays, Xucang Snow Lotus Root has been listed as a Spark Program project by the Changxing County Government and is being widely promoted for cultivation and industrial production. Xucang Snow Lotus Root is highly versatile, suitable for both raw and cooked consumption. It can be eaten as a fruit, served as a vegetable, or used in desserts. It is currently the season for enjoying lotus root—one popular local preparation involves stuffing the holes with glutinous rice, boiling the root, slicing it, and serving it with sugar, offering a delightfully sweet and sticky taste that is a traditional Qingming Festival food in Changxing. It has now moved beyond ordinary households to become a must-have cold dish and dessert in high-end hotels and restaurants, greatly increasing in value. Xucang Snow Lotus Root is also highly nutritious. Fresh lotus roots contain abundant starch, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals such as iron and calcium. When made into lotus root powder and mixed with sugar, it becomes a dessert suitable for all ages and an excellent tonic for new mothers and those recovering from illness. Every part of the Xucang Snow Lotus Root is valuable—the lotus seeds, pure and unstained by the mud, are a traditional tonic that strengthens the spleen, calms diarrhea, nourishes the heart, and benefits the kidneys. The lotus heart, lotus node, and lotus receptacle have cooling properties and can all be used medicinally, making them premium traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients. The peak sales period for Xucang Snow Lotus Root was during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, when it was hailed as a “Changxing Delicacy” and exported as far as Shandong and Henan. By the late Qing Dynasty, it was mainly sold to Shanghai. Today, during the snow lotus root harvest season, the urban and rural areas of Changxing come alive with the bustling scene of “lotus-filled pools and the fragrance of lotus blossoms, markets brimming with the sale of snow lotus roots.” With the Qingming Festival upon us, don’t forget to try some Xucang Lotus Root.