Nanhu Lake Water Caltrop 南湖菱

Nanhu Lake Water Caltrop (南湖菱) is a round, hornless autumn speciality of Jiaxing (嘉兴), named for Nanhu Lake (南湖). Its smooth-ended shape has inspired the names yuanbao ling (元宝菱), “ingot caltrop,” huntun ling (馄饨菱), “wonton caltrop,” and heshang ling (和尚菱), “monk caltrop.”

Flavour and texture

Jiaxing’s municipal introduction describes green skin, tender flesh, abundant juice and a sweet, crisp bite with a light fragrance. It records fresh caltrops being eaten raw, while older, yellow-brown ones are boiled. The cooked flesh is described as sweet, aromatic and soft with a starchy texture.

Other preparations

A third form uses black caltrops, washed and dried in the wind before the flesh is removed from the shell. The flesh becomes hard, with a distinctive aroma. The same municipal introduction also lists pastries, cooked dishes, wine and sugar among the uses of the local crop.