Скачать или смотреть Harvesting China’s Most Dangerous Fruit: Giant Spiky Gorgon Seeds

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In the video, you see a farmer standing in murky water, harvesting a unique aquatic crop called Gorgon Fruit (scientific name: Euryale ferox). Here’s what’s happening:

Giant Green Leaves Floating on Water

These are the plant’s shield-shaped leaves (up to 1.5m wide!). Their undersides are covered in sharp spines to protect the fruit.

Cutting a Circle on the Leaf

The farmer uses a curved bamboo knife to slice a hole in the leaf. This avoids touching the spiky underside and reveals the fruit’s stem below.

Reaching Underwater

She feels through muddy water to locate a spiky “Gorgon Fruit” (resembling a small spiky ball). Each contains edible seeds.

Cutting the Fruit

The fruit is cut from its stem and lifted out. Caution: Its surface has needle-like spines that can pierce skin.

Why Is This Done?

The seeds inside (called Qianshi/“Gorgon Seeds” in Chinese):

🍽️ Eaten fresh or dried (boiled in soups, desserts).

🌿 Used in traditional medicine for digestion and energy.

This dangerous harvest is done by hand because:

Machines damage the delicate plants.

Spines protect the fruit from animals.

Final Product

After harvesting:

Fruits are cracked open.

Seeds are removed and washed.

Red outer coating is peeled to reveal white pearls (sold as "Gorgon Seeds" or Qianshi).

This crop grows in China’s wetlands, with farmers risking cuts, infections, and back strain – all to produce a unique ingredient unknown outside Asia.