Nelumbo nucifera

Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names, including blue lotus, Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily. Botanically, Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.) may also be referred to by its former names, Nelumbium speciosum (Wild.) or Nymphaea nelumbo. This plant is an aquatic perennial, but if its seeds are preserved under favorable circumstances, they may remain viable for many years.

Uses

The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible. In Asia, the petals are sometimes used for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food. The rhizome ndia and Pakistan, and renkon in Japanese) are used as a vegetable in soups and stir-fried dishes. Petals, leaves, and rhizome can also all be eaten raw, but there is a risk of parasite transmission (e.g. Fasciolopsis buski): it is therefore recommended that they are cooked before eating.

Chinese people have long known that Lotus roots are a very healthy food and have been using them in this way for many centuries. Recent studies confirm this - Lotus roots were found to be rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, copper, and manganese while very low in saturated fat.

The stamens can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal tea called liánhua- cha in Chinese, or (particularly in Vietnam) used to impart a scent to tea leaves. The lotus seeds or nuts (called liánzi(, ??; or xian liánzi(, ???, in Chinese) are quite versatile, and can be eaten raw or dried and popped like popcorn. They can also be boiled down until soft and made into a paste, or boiled with dried longans and rock sugar to made a tong sui (sweet soup). Combined with sugar, lotus seed paste becomes one of the most common ingredient used in pastries such as mooncakes, daifuku, and rice flour pudding.

Various parts of the sacred lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine. Lotus seeds called Phool Mukhana is also used in Indian cooking The distinctive dried seed heads, which resemble the spouts of watering cansphoto are widely sold throughout the world for decorative purposes and for dried flower arranging.

Indian Herbs

Nelumbo nucifera

Uses

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