Water caltrop 菱角 （ líng jiǎo ）
Classification: Genus Trapa in the family Lythraceae
Calories: 98kcal/100g
Nutritional Value: Clear heat and relieve summer heat、Tonify the spleen and boost qi、Aid in weight loss and body shaping
Not Suitable for: High blood sugar、Spleen and Stomach weakness
Introduction: Water caltrop is an annual herbaceous aquatic plant belonging to the genus Trapa in the family Lythraceae.It floats on the water, with a deep shiny green surface that is smooth and hairless.The back is either green or purple-red in color.The small flowers are white, unisexual, and have four petals.The fruit is curved like a bull’s horn, with a hard shell that is initially purple-red in color and turns purplish-black when mature.The seeds are white and shaped like ingots.Water caltrop has a crispy texture and delicious flesh.It is commonly steamed and peeled for consumption, or used to make porridge.Water caltrops are rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, various vitamins, and trace elements.They have diuretic and lactation-promoting effects, can relieve thirst, and have detoxifying properties.They have a sweet, cool taste and are non-toxic.When young and tender, they can be eaten raw as a fruit, while mature fruits can be cooked or processed into water chestnut flour.Dried water caltrops can be stored as “feng ling” to extend their availability, and water caltrop leaves can be used as green fodder or green manure.If the shell of a water caltrop becomes soft or has a foul odor, it indicates spoilage and should not be consumed.