Fruits and Nuts · FFET10354
Honghu lotus root
Honghu ponds produce floury and crisp lotus roots, with the main harvest peaking in autumn.
Melons, fruits, and nuts and seeds such as chestnut and walnut.
Honghu lotus root comes from Honghu in Hubei's Jianghan Plain and includes floury and crisp types. Lotus root strips are harvested by hand in early May after Start of Summer, while the main lotus root harvest peaks in autumn. Local lotus roots are simmered in soup or made into lotus root powder, and the strips are stir-fried or pickled.
What
Honghu lotus root is an ingredient grown in the ponds of Honghu, Hubei, with floury and crisp types. Lotus root strips are also harvested locally for stir-frying or pickling.1,3
When
Lotus root strips are harvested by hand in early May after Start of Summer, while the main lotus root harvest peaks in autumn. The available 2024 and 2026 reports provide no dated historical text establishing the earliest record of Honghu lotus root; their dates do not establish its origin.1,3
Where
The growing area is Honghu, a city within Jingzhou, Hubei, on the Jianghan Plain. The lotus roots grow in local ponds with rich mud.1,3
How
Harvesters wade into the ponds and use water pumps and boats to gather lotus roots; some ponds combine lotus growing with fish or crayfish farming. Lotus roots are simmered in soup or made into lotus root powder, while the strips are stir-fried or pickled in sour and spicy brine.1,2,3
Why
Floury and crisp lotus roots offer different textures. Honghu lotus root's flavor is linked to the Jianghan Plain's growing conditions, particularly its water and nutrient-rich pond mud (2024 report).1,3
Impact and influence
Honghu had 225,000 mu planted with lotus root and produced 320,000 metric tons in 2025. Fresh lotus roots were exported to the United States in March 2026 and to Europe in April 2026. The 2 reports dated September 17 and September 18, 2026 mention national geographical indication status for Honghu lotus root, but the available material contains neither the corresponding official notice nor the approval year.2,3