Lotus Seed

Lotus seed is the seed of plants in the genus Nelumbo, particularly Nelumbo nucifera, prominent in Asian cooking and traditional healing. It is nutrient dense: 100 grams of dried lotus seed provides 332 calories along with 116 percent of the daily value of manganese, 63 percent of phosphorus and notably high thiamin. It is commonly made into lotus seed paste for Chinese pastries and Japanese desserts, eaten fresh from the seed head, or dried, soaked overnight and added to soups and congee, and crystallized lotus seeds cooked in syrup are a popular Chinese snack; seeds from the Xiangtan or Xiang region, served with specific condiments, make up the dish known as Hunan's three treasures. The seed also appears outside Asia, eaten raw in Colombian coastal cities such as Barranquilla and Cartagena, where it is known as martillo.