巢湖芡(qian)實產自安徽合肥巢湖一帶,屬(shu)睡(shui)蓮科芡(qian)屬(shu),一年生(sheng)水生(sheng)草本植(zhi)物。
呈類球形,多為破粒(li),完整者直徑5-8nm;表面(mian)有棕(zong)紅色(se)(se)內(nei)(nei)種(zhong)皮,一(yi)端黃白(bai)色(se)(se),約占全體1/3,有凹點狀的種(zhong)臍痕(hen),除去內(nei)(nei)種(zhong)皮顯白(bai)色(se)(se);質較硬,斷面(mian)白(bai)色(se)(se),粉(fen)性;氣微(wei),味淡。
含有(you)豐富的(de)淀粉,可為人體提供熱能,并含有(you)多種維生(sheng)素和碳(tan)物質,保證體內營(ying)養所需成分。
芡實可(ke)以加強小腸吸收(shou)功能,提高(gao)尿(niao)木糖排泄率,增加血清胡蘿卜素濃度。
芡實(shi)采收(shou)季(ji)節為白露-霜降(jiang)之間,見種(zhong)皮呈(cheng)紅褐色采收(shou)。
采收(shou)時乘小船或大(da)木盆(pen)進入塘、池中(zhong),用鐮(lian)刀割取成熟果(guo)實,或撈(lao)取已(yi)自行開裂浮在水(shui)面(mian)上的種子。
采收時(shi),應(ying)留下一部分(fen)果實(shi),讓其自行脫落,擴大(da)自然(ran)繁殖。
采下的(de)果(guo)實,可堆集(ji)漚爛其(qi)果(guo)肉及假(jia)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi),然后(hou)放入清水中(zhong)淘洗干(gan)凈,撈出(chu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)曬干(gan),用機器(qi)脫去硬殼,取出(chu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)仁(ren),也可把(ba)干(gan)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)放入開水中(zhong)浸(jin)泡(pao),濕潤(run)至外種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)皮(pi)發軟(ruan),快刀(dao)削切、取出(chu)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)仁(ren)曬干(gan)。
前(qian)一(yi)(yi)種方法(fa)加(jia)工(gong)(gong)快,適(shi)用于(yu)量(liang)大的加(jia)工(gong)(gong),但(dan)加(jia)工(gong)(gong)出的種仁破(po)(po)碎較多,出仁率低,并降(jiang)低商品規(gui)(gui)格(ge)等(deng)級。后一(yi)(yi)種方法(fa)加(jia)工(gong)(gong)較慢,費時費力,但(dan)種仁破(po)(po)碎較少(shao),商品規(gui)(gui)格(ge)等(deng)級高(gao),適(shi)用于(yu)少(shao)量(liang)加(jia)工(gong)(gong)。