Lotus root is one of the important aquatic vegetables, and lotus root in river ditch is the top grade in aquatic products. It has the characteristics of white meat, large melon pieces, thick and long middle section, small and short lotus root handle, less thick meat, tender and crisp without black tendons, fine chewing without residue and so on. Its leaves and flowers are slightly sweet and have no bitterness. There is a folk saying that "ginseng outside the customs is a river ditch lotus root". More interestingly, the lotus root in the valley has many holes. Lotus roots produced in other places are mostly seven or eight holes, while lotus roots in river valleys are nine holes or even as many as eleven holes. Cooking in this way, the soup is muddy and sweet, and the cold salad is fresh, sweet and crisp, especially the lotus root with flowers, which tastes better. According to legend, Liu Xiu, the emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, had been to Dongping when he was alive, and ate the lotus root in the river ditch, praising it as the "crown of lotus root". It is listed as a tribute and will be given away for many years. Han Yu, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, once wrote a poem for this purpose: "Cold is sweeter than ice and snow, and it is heavy at the entrance."
Lotus root is the rhizome of lotus and lotus. Lotus, also known as lotus, belongs to the genus Nelumbo of Nymphaeaceae, which is native to India and is a perennial aquatic perennial herb. Its underground stem, lotus root, can reproduce several knots a year. Each node is round and flat, and roots and petioles grow between nodes. Cut the lotus root, there are many holes in it, which is the air cavity of the lotus root. The air cavity runs through the lotus from the root to the leaf end. Leaves and stems exposed to water constantly absorb oxygen in the air and transport it to the roots through the air cavity. With this supply line, the roots can get the oxygen they need, and the lotus roots buried in the sludge will not drown and rot. There are many slender and extremely uniform lotus roots on the cross section of lotus root. This is a kind of banded spirochete, which is elastic and can still contract after stretching. Cut off the lotus root and keep the lotus root silk. People call this interesting phenomenon "breaking ties".
Lotus root is suitable to grow in the water area where the water level is 0.5- 1 m, the rising water does not exceed 1.5 m, the soil is solid and sticky, the surface silt is deep, soft and fertile, and the water flow fluctuates gently. The waters around Hegou Village meet this requirement. This area belongs to the edge of Daotunwa. A large amount of rain that falls all the year round in the northern hills brings a large amount of topsoil rich in organic matter, which is deposited here, forming a fertile mud layer, providing natural superior conditions for the growth of lotus roots.
Historically, the waters around Hegou Village were almost all lotus roots. When you come here in summer, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of "moving boats splashing green and shaking their handles against the wind". The wind in the lake is clear and fragrant, which is fascinating.
The lotus root in the river ditch is full of treasures. It contains a lot of starch and protein, as well as vitamins A, B, C, minerals, nicotinic acid and other nutrients. Its roots, flowers and seeds are excellent food. Root blocks can be used to make various dishes, such as fried stuffing, cold lotus root slices, sweet and sour lotus root, fried lotus root shreds and so on. It can also be made into lotus root powder with high nutritional value, which is suitable for all ages. Lotus leaves can wrap food, and steamed meat wrapped in lotus leaves has a unique flavor. Flowers can be made into fried flower cakes, which are fragrant and delicious. When eaten, they moisten the lungs and put petals in books to prevent moth. Seeds can be made into lotus seed soup, lotus seed porridge, honey lotus seeds and so on. Lotus root is also a good Chinese medicine. Its lotus root is flat and astringent, containing tannins, asparagine and other components, and its function converges and stops bleeding. People often use fresh lotus root juice to treat hemoptysis and nosebleeds. Lotus leaves are flat and bitter, and have the effect of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat; Lotus seeds contain a variety of alkaloids, as well as luteolin, rutin and other flavonoids, which can strengthen the spleen, nourish the heart and solidify sperm.
Lotus root in Hegou has a long history. According to relevant data, it was cultivated as early as the Han and Tang Dynasties. The area of high-quality lotus root is very small, only 100 mu, and the annual output is about 20 thousand kilograms.
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