Water caltrop is an aquatic plant that grows in water; a detailed explanation of how to eat it and its effects and benefits

Water caltrop belongs to the genus Trapa in the family Trapaceae. Also known as waist caltrop, water chestnut, and caltrop fruit, it is sweet in taste, cool in nature, and non-toxic. It is the fruit of the annual herbaceous aquatic plant water caltrop. Water caltrop is rich in starch, protein, glucose, unsaturated fatty acids, and various vitamins. So where does water caltrop grow? How do you eat it? What effects and benefits does it have?

Where does water caltrop grow?

Water caltrop does not grow at the roots of the caltrop plant. It forms as a small fruit after the flowers growing on the stem are pollinated, then hangs down underwater and grows into a water caltrop. When harvesting, scoop up the leaves and lift them up, and you will be able to see them; then simply pick them.

When does water caltrop mature?

The flesh of the water caltrop can be eaten, and the tender stems can be used as a vegetable. The fruit has sharp horns, hence the common name water caltrop.

It grows in lakes and matures around August each year. The water caltrop vine grows green leaves, and the leaf shape is diamond-shaped, so the fruit is called water caltrop. The stem is purplish-red, and it produces bright small yellow flowers. Water caltrop is an annual herbaceous aquatic plant, also known as the “peanut in water.” The fruit, the “water caltrop,” is a nut that hangs underwater beneath dense leaves; the whole plant must be lifted up and turned over to be able to see it. It matures after autumn, and the fruit becomes hard. If wild water caltrop is not picked, it gradually falls off the stem and sinks to the bottom of the water, where it sprouts the following year. Usually after spring begins in February, a seedling bed must be set up to cultivate seedlings densely. By late May to early June in early summer, after the first rice harvest, the paddy field is prepared, ridges are built, water is channeled into the field, and water caltrop seedlings are transplanted.

There are many varieties of water caltrop. Cultivated ones can be as large as a matchbox, while wild ones are smaller, with small ones only as big as a fingernail. They come in green, red, and purple. The skin is crisp and the flesh is delicious, with a tasty flavor. It can be considered both a fine fruit and used as food grain. Generally, it is eaten after steaming or boiling, or after being sun-dried and chopped into fine pieces and cooked into porridge.

Effects and benefits of water caltrop

Water caltrop is sweet in taste and cool in nature. It is rich in starch, glucose, protein, vitamin B and C, caltrop tetraene sterol, β-sitosterol, and calcium, phosphorus, iron, and other components.

According to the Compendium of Materia Medica: eating water caltrop can relieve summer heat, quench thirst, eliminate restlessness, boost qi and strengthen the spleen, and remove illness and strengthen the body. Pharmacologically, it also has many benefits for the human body:

1. Tonifies the spleen and boosts qi, strengthens the thighs and knees, and strengthens strength and qi

2. Anti-cancer; the pure water infusion of water caltrop has an inhibitory effect on cancer cell degeneration and tissue proliferation

3. Weight loss; water caltrop promotes urination, promotes lactation, and relieves alcohol toxicity. It is an auxiliary food for weight loss

4. Relieves skin diseases and assists in treating various skin diseases such as head sores in children, yellow water sores on the head and face, and skin warts

How to eat water caltrop

There are many ways to eat water caltrop. It can be boiled in salt water or cooked into porridge.

Boiled water caltrop

Ingredients: water caltrop, water.

Method:

(1) Wash the water caltrop clean.

(2) Wash the pot clean, then put the washed water caltrop into the pot.

(3) Add enough water to cover the water caltrop; it will be ready in 15 minutes.

Water caltrop sweet soup

Ingredients: water caltrop, baking soda powder, white sugar, water.

Method:

(1) First boil the water caltrop in water. At this time, add an appropriate amount of baking soda powder to the water to make peeling easier.

(2) After boiling and peeling, take an appropriate amount of water and cook the water caltrop thoroughly.

(3) Add an appropriate amount of white sugar and it is ready to serve.

Water caltrop flour cake

Ingredients: water caltrop, glutinous rice flour, white sugar.

Method:

(1) Remove the shells from the water caltrop, dry them, grind them into fine powder, then mix with glutinous rice flour and add an appropriate amount of white sugar.

(2) Put into a steamer basket and steam thoroughly over high heat; take out and cut into pieces.

Tip: Water caltrop flour cake is a famous food from the Qing Dynasty. It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach and boosting strength. Regular consumption has a relatively good health-preserving effect.

Who water caltrop is suitable for

Generally, most people can eat it. Water caltrop is rich in starch, protein, glucose, fat, carotene, vitamin B1, B2, vitamin C, and other vitamins, as well as trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, and it does not contain fat that makes people gain weight. It has weight-loss and body-shaping effects, can tonify the spleen and stomach, strengthen the thighs and knees, and boost strength and qi. Water caltrop flour porridge benefits the stomach and intestines, can relieve internal heat, and is beneficial for older people to eat often.

How to choose water caltrop

To eat water caltrop raw, choose green ones; they are tender and have a crisper texture, like water chestnut;

To eat them cooked, choose yellow or red ones, which are fully mature; after cooking, the texture is soft, starchy, and glutinous, similar to cooked chestnuts.