When Do Lotus Seeds Ripen? A Detailed Guide to the Harvest Season and Picking Time

Bowing head to pick lotus seeds, lotus seeds clear as water, it is time to eat lotus seeds again. Summer lotus seeds are tender, fresh and sweet, very delicious, so when do lotus seeds ripen?

Lotus seeds generally ripen between May and September, which is the traditional harvest period for lotus seeds, but the ripening of lotus seeds is also related to changes in temperature.

Fresh lotus seeds generally begin to plump up and ripen in July and August. They usually start appearing on the market around mid-July, and begin to age around the end of August, so they are at their most tender and fresh when they first come on the market, and those just picked are even sweeter and more tender.

After September, the lotus seed pods slowly turn from fresh green to black. A blackened lotus seed pod means it is fully ripe, and we call these old lotus seeds. Old lotus seeds are also edible; although their texture is not as tender as fresh lotus seeds, they have a flavor all their own, tasting very mealy, and can be used to make congee.