巢湖芡實產(chan)自安徽合肥巢湖一(yi)帶,屬(shu)睡蓮(lian)科芡屬(shu),一(yi)年生水(shui)生草本植(zhi)物。
呈類球形,多為破(po)粒,完整者直徑(jing)5-8nm;表面有(you)棕紅色內種皮,一(yi)端黃白(bai)(bai)色,約占全體1/3,有(you)凹(ao)點狀的種臍(qi)痕,除去內種皮顯(xian)白(bai)(bai)色;質較硬,斷面白(bai)(bai)色,粉性;氣微,味(wei)淡。
含有豐富(fu)的(de)淀粉(fen),可為人體(ti)提(ti)供(gong)熱(re)能(neng),并含有多種維(wei)生素和碳物(wu)質,保證體(ti)內(nei)營(ying)養(yang)所需(xu)成分。
芡(qian)實可(ke)以加強小腸吸收功(gong)能,提高尿木糖排泄(xie)率(lv),增加血(xue)清胡蘿卜素濃(nong)度(du)。
芡實采收(shou)季(ji)節為白露-霜降(jiang)之間,見種皮呈紅(hong)褐色(se)采收(shou)。
采收時(shi)乘小船或大木盆進入塘(tang)、池(chi)中,用鐮刀(dao)割取(qu)成熟果實,或撈取(qu)已(yi)自行開裂浮在(zai)水(shui)面上的種子。
采收時,應留下一部分果實,讓其自行脫落,擴(kuo)大(da)自然繁(fan)殖。
采下的果(guo)實(shi),可(ke)堆集漚(ou)爛其果(guo)肉及(ji)假種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi),然(ran)后(hou)放入(ru)清水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)淘(tao)洗干(gan)(gan)凈,撈出(chu)(chu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子曬(shai)干(gan)(gan),用(yong)機器(qi)脫(tuo)去硬殼,取出(chu)(chu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)仁,也可(ke)把干(gan)(gan)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子放入(ru)開水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)浸泡,濕潤(run)至外種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)發軟,快刀削切、取出(chu)(chu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)仁曬(shai)干(gan)(gan)。
前一種方法加(jia)工(gong)快,適用(yong)(yong)于量大的(de)加(jia)工(gong),但(dan)加(jia)工(gong)出的(de)種仁(ren)(ren)破碎(sui)較(jiao)多,出仁(ren)(ren)率低,并降(jiang)低商(shang)品規格等級。后一種方法加(jia)工(gong)較(jiao)慢(man),費時(shi)費力,但(dan)種仁(ren)(ren)破碎(sui)較(jiao)少,商(shang)品規格等級高,適用(yong)(yong)于少量加(jia)工(gong)。