When Are Fresh Lotus Seeds in Season? Market Prices and How to Eat Them Explained

Lotus seeds, also known as lotus fruit, lotus food, lotus flesh and so on, are the fruit of the lotus plant of the water lily family. They generally begin to ripen and hit the market around August, and the price is a little steep, at around 2 yuan each. Eating lotus seeds regularly can clear heat, calm the heart and so on, so they are very popular. So when are fresh lotus seeds available? What is the market price per jin? How do you eat them?

1. When are fresh lotus seeds available?

Lotus plants generally begin to bloom in the Yangtze River basin in late May, with the full blooming period from June to August. The south is a little earlier, while the north is a little later. Fresh lotus seeds can be eaten from June onward, and they generally take 30 to 40 days to fully ripen. The best seed lotus varieties are “Xianglian” from Hunan, “Ganlian” from Jiangxi, “Jianlian” from Fujian, and “Xuanlian” from Zhejiang. Lotus root comes earliest in June; the fresh root produced at this time is called “flower-fragrance lotus root.” Fully mature roots are mostly dug from after autumn to before April of the following year. Folk classification also distinguishes “crisp lotus root,” which is suitable for stir-frying, and “stewing lotus root,” which is suitable for boiling and is very starchy. The main producing area is Jinhu in Jiangsu.

Fresh lotus seeds begin to ripen every June, and the ripe fresh lotus seeds taste delicately fragrant. Dried lotus seeds are excellent for making soup and so on, and can have a health-promoting effect on the human body.

2. What is the market price of fresh lotus seeds per jin?

1. What is the market price of white lotus seeds per jin?

The most common kind on the market now is white lotus seeds. This variety has a relatively high survival rate and produces more fruit. They are basically sold at street stalls, and prices certainly vary, but in supermarkets they are generally around 30 yuan per jin. They are generally divided into two types, with or without the core, and the cored type is generally much cheaper.

White lotus seed cores can be used to make tea, generally priced at around 50 yuan per jin. They are the germ in the center of the lotus seed. Brewed as tea, they can clear heat and detoxify, calm the nerves and soothe the heart, and so on. White lotus has high medicinal value and was once commonly used to make porridge for health maintenance and nourishment. If you have a cough, eating it can also effectively relieve it.

2. What is the market price of red lotus seeds per jin?

The red lotus seed variety is named for the red color of the fruit it produces. Its effects are much the same as those of white lotus seeds. It can be used both as food and as medicine. It simply has an extra seed coat compared with white lotus seeds. It is a Eurasian species and originally came from China. A single red lotus seed weighs about 5 g, and the price is slightly higher than that of white lotus seeds, around 40 yuan per jin.

3. How do you eat fresh lotus seeds?

1. For people who can tolerate the taste of fresh lotus seeds, you can simply peel off the outer skin and eat them directly. Although the taste is bitter and astringent, they are rich in nutrients and retain the nutritional components of fresh lotus seeds to the greatest extent, which is most beneficial for the body. They are also very convenient to eat, saving the time and steps of preparation.

2. You can cook the lotus seeds into porridge, which can replace our daily staple food, and you can add some seasonings according to your own taste. You only need to wash the lotus seeds and japonica rice clean. For example, adding jujubes can help nourish the blood; adding some mung beans can help relieve heat and cool the body.

3. Besides the two methods above, lotus seeds can also be boiled into soup, which can serve both as a daily tea drink and as a dish that clears heat and detoxifies, getting the best of both worlds. Moreover, after lotus seeds are boiled into soup, their own fishy smell is greatly reduced, so eating them is less troublesome, and the texture becomes more crisp and refreshing, making it one of the most popular summer dishes.

4. How much fresh lotus seed is appropriate to eat at one time?

Eating about 30 to 50 grams of fresh lotus seeds a day is relatively appropriate. Fresh lotus seeds taste fairly sweet and have a relatively mild nature. You can eat about 30 to 50 grams a day. This amount is neither too much nor too little and is fairly reasonable. Eating too many fresh lotus seeds can easily cause bloating, so you should still pay attention to the amount of fresh lotus seeds you eat.