Autumn in China is the season for lotus roots, and people all over the country enjoy them in different ways
As autumn arrives in China, lotus roots come into season. So nutritious and beneficial to the body (according to traditional Chinese medicine principles), lotus root is often compared to the prized medicinal plant ginseng. Lotus root can supposedly relieve coughing, soothe the lungs, and improve one’s mood—it is even named “ginseng of the water (水中人参).”
Even ancient people prized lotus root. In the 1970s, archaeologists working on the Mawangdui Han Tomb, a 2,100-year-old tomb uncovered in Changsha, Hunan province, dug up an ancient pot of lotus soup. When they opened the pot up, the soup instantly became oxidized and evaporated, leaving only speculation as to how it tasted.
Wang Lin is a contributing writer at The World of Chinese who aspires to tell fresh stories about life, arts and culture in China—no prejudice, no clichés. Her writing has appeared on Nikkei Asia, the South China Morning Post, RADII, and elsewhere. She was born in Ningbo, a bustling port known for its dumplings and seafood.
