Description
紅皮湘蓮子 無芯 開邊湘莲子 （16oz/包）
蓮子有很多別名，有時叫湘蓮、湖蓮，是用其出產的地方而命名，如「湘蓮」為產於湖南、湖北的蓮子；而「湖蓮」則為產於江蘇、浙江的蓮子。湘蓮，生長在湘江下游地區，氣候濕潤、四季分明，年平均氣溫17度左右，且陽光充足雨量豐富，形成湘蓮生產的有利氣候條件。因其蛋白質含量高，脂肪含量低，煮食易爛，肉質細膩、糯香鮮甜，口感好等特色，被稱為「中國第一蓮子」。
其中，紅蓮子為未去種皮的蓮子，而白蓮子則是已去種皮的蓮子。湘蓮子用之煲湯，煲出來的湯色偏深紅色、湘蓮子營養價值高，除具有健脾益腎功效外，亦適合婦女及氣血運行不順的人士。
紅蓮子本身就富含有豐富的鈣、磷、鉀等人體所必需的微量元素以及多種維生素。而且紅蓮子能夠促進人體的吸收，增強新陳代謝，而且對於貧血腎虛也能起到很好的保護作用，比起白蓮子營養價值更高。而且無添加防腐劑或熏硫，安全食用。
在中醫藥學中，蓮子被譽為「脾之果」。蓮子性平，味甘、澀，入脾經、腎經、胃經、心經及膀胱等經脈，具補脾益胃、益腎固精、健脾止瀉、養心安神的功效。
現代醫學顯示，蓮子含高碳水化合物、蛋白質及脂肪、鈣、磷、鐵、維生素B、胡蘿蔔素等人體所需營養成分，是男女老少皆宜的養生補品。
食用處理方法：1.先用水清洗一下，去除表面灰塵 2.建議煮前先浸泡1-2小時 3. 明火煲2小時左右，如用壓力鍋45-60分鐘即可。
保存方法：請存放於陰涼乾燥處，由於無任何防腐處理，如長時間未食用，請放於冰箱保存。蓮子適合煲湯、煲粥或煲糖水。
食療食譜推介：
1. 銀耳蓮子羹
原料：蓮子50克、銀耳30克、冰糖100克、清水適量。
做法：先將蓮子、銀耳分別用清水洗净、泡發；把蓮子、銀耳撈出，連同冰糖放入燉盅内，加適量清水，入蒸籠蒸1小時左右即可。
2. 蓮子雪耳木瓜糖水
材料：蓮子15克、百合10克、元肉15克、雪耳一個、木瓜一個（比較熟的）、紅棗6粒
做法：所有材料略清洗；雪耳需浸泡至發大變軟，發泡好之後去掉蒂部分剪成小塊；木瓜去皮切成小塊。先將材料放入煲內（木瓜除外），加適量清水，大火滾後轉慢火煮30分鐘左右，至全部材料軟熟，再放入木瓜及冰糖煮10分鐘左右即可
功效：補脾益腎，潤燥安神
3. 蓮子花膠烏雞湯
材料：蓮子30克、淮山20克、黑豆20克、花膠90克、烏雞一隻、陳皮一角、生薑3片、紅棗（去核）3粒、枸杞1汤匙，紹酒及鹽適量
製法：烏雞洗淨去頭尾，斬件汆水；其他材料洗淨，與烏雞加水12碗入煲，以大火煲滾後轉文火煲1.5-2小時左右，加入枸杞和鹽調味即可
功效：健脾補腎，補血安神，滋補養顏，潤澤肌膚，消除黑眼圈；外感未清者不宜。
Lotus Seeds /Xiang Lian Zi (16oz/Bag)
Like Lian zi, this is the mature seed of the water lily plant. The differences between Xianglianzi (lotus seed with brown inner hull) and Bailianzi (white lotus seed) are as follows:
- Xianglian seeds (with hull) have high protein content and a low fat content. It has delicate meat, a sweet glutinous taste, and total sugar and protein content rank first in China's three major lotus species. White lotus seed is rich in starch, protein and raffinose (a complex carbohydrate composed of glucose, fructose, and galactose.) But its nutritional content is not as good as Xianglian seed.
- Both Xianglianzi and Bailianzi invigorate qi, nourish the heart and kidney, calm the mind, strengthen the spleen and stomach, etc. However, Xianglianzi focuses more on qi and blood, while Bailianzi (white lotus seed) focuses more on clearing nervous disorders. See: Dried Lian Zi: Item Number: 541216
- Bailianzi is used to treat lung inflammation and dry cough, women's irregular menstruation, gastritis, constipation and other diseases. Whereas Xianglianzi (with the hull) is used to clear away inflammation and detoxify, and tonify blood and qi.
The taste is sweet and astringent.
Tradtional Indications are chronic spleen deficiency and diarrhea, kidney deficiency with nocturnal emission, chronic leukorrhea, incontinense, restlessness, panic, and insomnia. It enters the meridians of Heart, Spleen, Kidney, Stomach, Liver, and Bladder channels
Lotus Seed Recipes:
1. Tremella Lotus Seed Soup
Tremella, aka White Fungus, is cooling, moistening and nourishing. Lotus seed is astringent and improves many aspects of energy and health.
Ingredients: Lotus seeds 50 grams, white fungus 30 grams, rock sugar 100 grams.
Soak the lotus seeds and white fungus in water and rinse. Place the lotus seeds, white fungus and rock sugar into a bowl, add the appropriate amount of water, steam it in a steamer for 1 hour.
2. Lotus Seed, Fish Maw and Black Chicken Soup
30g lotus seeds, 20g Chinese yam (Huai Shan), 20g black beans, 90g fish maw,
1 black chicken, 1 small piece dried tangerine peel (Chen Pi), 3 slices fresh ginger, 3 pitted red dates, 1 tbsp Goqi Berry, Shaoxing wine and salt (to taste).
Instructions:
Prepare the Black Chicken: Clean the black chicken, remove the head and tail, and cut it into pieces. Blanch the pieces briefly in boiling water to remove impurities.
Wash Ingredients: Rinse the lotus seeds, Chinese yam, black beans, fish maw, dried tangerine peel, and red dates.
Cooking: Place all the ingredients into a large pot with 12 bowls (approximately 3 liters) of water.
Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours.
Season: Add Goqi Berry, salt to taste and serve hot.
Health Benefits: Strengthens the spleen and kidneys
Nourishes blood and calms the mind
Promotes beauty and hydration for the skin
Helps reduce dark circles under the eyes
Note: Not suitable for individuals with unresolved external infections or colds.
