Lotus seed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lotus seed |
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Dried lotus seeds as they are commonly found in the market
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| Traditional Chinese | 蓮子 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 莲子 | ||||||||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | liánzǐ | ||||||||||||||
| Jyutping | lin4 zi2 | ||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | lotus seed | ||||||||||||||
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A lotus seed or lotus nut is the seed of a plant called the lotus. These seeds come from the Nelumbo nucifera species. People in Asia often use lotus seeds in their cooking. They are also used in traditional medicine. You can usually find these seeds dried and without their shells. Lotus seeds are full of good things like protein, B vitamins, and important minerals.
Contents
Types of Lotus Seeds
When you buy dried lotus seeds, you will usually find two main types: brown peel and white.
Brown Peel Seeds
Brown peel lotus seeds are picked when the lotus flower's seed head is fully grown or almost ready. The outer skin of these seeds turns brown because they are ripe. To get the bitter part out, these hard seeds are usually cracked in half.
White Lotus Seeds
White lotus seeds are picked earlier, when the lotus seed head is still green. But the seeds inside are almost fully grown. These seeds have their shells and outer skin removed. When they are picked, a bitter part inside called the "germ" is taken out. This is usually done with a special hollow needle.
Sometimes, dried lotus seeds can turn a yellowish-brown color if they are old. Some sellers might use chemicals like hydrogen peroxide to make them look whiter.
What's Inside Lotus Seeds?
Lotus seeds are very healthy! If you eat about 100 grams of dried lotus seeds, you get 332 calories. They are made up of 64% carbohydrates, 2% fat, 15% protein, and 14% water.
These seeds are packed with B vitamins. They have a lot of thiamin, which is 43% of what you need each day. They also have many important minerals. For example, they contain a lot of manganese (116% of your daily need) and phosphorus (63% of your daily need).
How People Use Lotus Seeds
Lotus seeds are used in many yummy ways!
In Asian Cooking
One very common way to use lotus seeds is to make lotus seed paste. This paste is used a lot in Chinese pastries and also in Japanese desserts. Think of it like a sweet filling for cakes and buns.
If you have dried lotus seeds, you need to soak them in water overnight. This makes them soft. After soaking, you can add them to soups or a thick rice porridge called congee. They can also be used in many other dishes.
Fresh and Sweet Snacks
Fresh lotus seeds are sold right in their cone-shaped seed heads. You can break them out and remove their soft, rubbery shell to eat them.
Another popular Chinese snack is "crystallized lotus seeds." These are made by cooking lotus seeds in sweet syrup and then drying them. They are a special treat, especially during Chinese New Year.
In China, some famous lotus seeds come from a place called Xiangtan. These "Xianglian lotus seeds" are known as one of "Hunan's three treasures."
Lotus Seeds in Colombia
Lotus seeds are also popular in the northern part of Colombia. Cities like Barranquilla and Cartagena enjoy them. Locals often call them "martillo." You can find fresh lotus seeds sold in street markets there. People usually eat them raw.
See also
In Spanish: Semilla de loto para niños
