How much is di'ou per jin, and what are the dietary taboos?
Di'ou, also known as dishen, diguar, and so on, is a precious Chinese herbal medicine with the effects of refreshing the mind, stimulating the appetite and aiding digestion, tonifying both liver and kidney deficiency, and strengthening the lower back, knees, sinews and bones, which is why it is so well liked. Although di'ou is called an "ou" (lotus root) and looks somewhat similar to lotus root, it is not lotus root at all; in fact, it is much smaller than lotus root and is the root of a plant. So how much does di'ou cost per jin on the market? What taboos are there when eating it?
1. The price of di'ou
Although di'ou is a precious Chinese herbal medicine, unlike precious herbs such as ginseng and reishi, its price is very affordable, which may also be related to its tenacious vitality: give it a bit of land and it roots deeply within it, growing vigorously; even if no one tends or digs it, it still "works hard" in its own patch of soil, year after year, biding its time and ready to flourish.
Generally, the price of ordinary dried di'ou on the market is around 20 yuan per jin. Of course, its price is certainly also related to its place of origin and quality. If it is di'ou produced in the high-cold regions of Tibet, the quality is excellent and the price is roughly around 150 yuan per jin. The specific price should still be based on the market, and no sweeping generalization can be made.
There are now many varieties of di'ou on the market, and their quality is far from uniform. Many unscrupulous merchants also pass off inferior goods as superior to make a profit, so you must pay extra attention when selecting di'ou. Fresh di'ou is generally milky white, similar to white jade, while dried products are generally earthy yellow and show signs of shrinkage; generally, only di'ou whose surface has no wormholes, or mold, or black spots is of relatively good quality; when selecting di'ou, be sure to smell it: normal di'ou has a fresh, faint fragrance, while counterfeit ones lack this fragrance.
2. Taboos of di'ou
Di'ou contains more than 20 kinds of trace elements needed by the human body, 18 kinds of amino acids, phenols, sugars and many other nutrients. It is especially suitable for women before and after childbirth to eat as a vegetable, and its health benefits are extremely notable, as recorded in detail in the Song dynasty's Jiayou Bencao. Regular consumption of dishen has the special effects of inhibiting the spread of cancer cells and aiding weight loss, so di'ou also enjoys the reputation of being a "treasure among vegetables." Although eating di'ou has many benefits, there are also some related taboos: people with weak spleen and stomach, or with diarrhea and abdominal pain, are not suitable to take di'ou; people with rheumatoid arthritis, children, and people with colds and fever are also not suitable to take it, otherwise the condition may worsen.
Every part of di'ou is a treasure. In spring and summer, the tender stems and leaves can be picked, and the ways to eat it are very diverse, but the main edible part is the white, crisp and tender ring-shaped fleshy root dug up after late autumn. One dish is crispy fried dishen, which has a unique flavor and is incomparably crisp and fragrant, and can be called the finest of dishes; when eaten, it has a fresh, light taste and clears internal heat while refreshing the mind.
The above is some related knowledge about di'ou. Friends who are interested can go to the market to see whether this Chinese herbal medicine is for sale and try the flavor of di'ou.