The Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) is an edible corm. It is available in two forms. The wild one abounds in the fresh, brackish and saline waters of southern Asia and much of Oceania. The other is the cultivated, larger, sweeter and juicier version that originates from China and is widely cultivated commercially. The round, brown-skinned corms have a flat top and base that reveals their bright white flesh when peeled. The Chinese water chestnut should not be confused with the horned water caltrop (Trapa bicornis), which is also known in the West as water chestnut.1
Origins and distribution
The Chinese water chestnut plant is native to eastern Asia, and grows wild in China, Indonesia and Australia. It is commonly grown in the tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate wetlands of Madagascar, central Africa, India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indo-China, Malaysia, southern United States of America, and the Pacific islands. The cultivated form of the plant became known to Europeans only in the 17th century.2
Description and usage
The Chinese water chestnut plant grows in shallow water. It is a perennial reed-like plant, with long and thin hollow leaves. The edible part is the corm, which develops underwater. The corms look like horses’ hooves, hence its Chinese name ma ti, “horses’ hooves” in Chinese.3
Chinese water chestnuts can be eaten either raw or cooked. They are often finely diced and added to stuffings, mainly for their crisp texture. The flavour is somewhat sweet, hence the botanical description, dulcis.4
Popular primarily with Chinese and Thai cooks, Chinese water chestnuts are found in markets throughout Southeast Asian cities.5
Variant names6
Common name: Chinese water chestnut
Scientific name: Eleocharis dulcis
Chinese: ma ti
Vietnamese: ma thay
Filipino: apulid
Indonesian: chikai, dekeng or tekee
Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja
References
1. Larkcom, J. (2007). Oriental vegetables: The complete guide for the gardening cook. London: Frances Lincoln, pp. 127–128, 217. (Call no.: R 635.04 LAR); Hutton, W. (1996). Tropical vegetables of Malaysia & Singapore. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, p. 54. (Call no.: RSING 635 HUT); Morton, J. F., Sanchez, C. A., & Snyder, G. H. (1988). Chinese waterchestnuts in Florida – past, present, and future. Florida State Horticultural Society, 101, 139–144, pp. 139–144. Retrieved 2017, September 1 from Florida State Horticultural Society website: http://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1988-vol-101/139-144%20(MORTON).pdf
2. Morton, J. F., Sanchez, C. A., & Snyder, G. H. (1988). Chinese waterchestnuts in Florida – past, present, and future. Florida State Horticultural Society, 101, 139–144, p. 140. Retrieved 2017, September 1 from Florida State Horticultural Society website: http://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1988-vol-101/139-144%20(MORTON).pdf
3. Larkcom, J. (2007). Oriental vegetables: The complete guide for the gardening cook. London: Frances Lincoln, pp. 127–128, 217. (Call no.: R 635.04 LAR); Morton, J. F., Sanchez, C. A., & Snyder, G. H. (1988). Chinese waterchestnuts in Florida – past, present, and future. Florida State Horticultural Society, 101, 139–144, pp. 139–144. Retrieved 2017, September 1 from Florida State Horticultural Society website: http://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1988-vol-101/139-144%20(MORTON).pdf
4. Hutton, W. (1996). Tropical vegetables of Malaysia & Singapore. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, p. 54. (Call no.: RSING 635 HUT).
5. Hutton, W. (1996). Tropical vegetables of Malaysia & Singapore. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, p. 54. (Call no.: RSING 635 HUT).
6. Larkcom, J. (2007). Oriental vegetables: The complete guide for the gardening cook. London: Frances Lincoln, pp. 127–128, 217. (Call no.: R 635.04 LAR); Morton, J. F., Sanchez, C. A., & Snyder, G. H. (1988). Chinese waterchestnuts in Florida – past, present, and future. Florida State Horticultural Society, 101, 139–144, p. 139. Retrieved 2017, September 1 from Florida State Horticultural Society website: http://fshs.org/proceedings-o/1988-vol-101/139-144%20(MORTON).pdf
The information in this article is valid as at 22 November 2017 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
The information on this page and any images that appear here may be used for private research and study purposes only. They may not be copied, altered or amended in any way without first gaining the permission of the copyright holder.
Ben Line Steamers Ltd. has been associated with Singapore since the 1860s. Its ships, bearing names prefixed by “Ben”, used to ply the Europe–Far East route, calling at Singapore and other ports in the region. However, an inability to compete with larger carriers ultimately led to Ben Line selling off...
Yamamoto Otokichi (b. 1817, Onoura, Japan–d. 18 January 1867, Singapore), also known as John Matthew Ottoson or Lin Ah Tao, is recognised as the first Japanese resident in Singapore. Otokichi and his family were fully based in Singapore by 1862, and remained there until his death in 1867. Otokichi was...
Michael and Sonya Fong were Singapore's first couple to set out on a world motorcycle trip, which they called "Baby Quek's Big Adventure", on 17 September 1995. They travelled for nearly two years, returning on 14 May 1997. Riding their 1,000 cc BMW motorcycle, Baby Quek, their trip managed to...
Wee Bin (b. 1823, China–d. 1868, unknown) was an early Singapore Chinese businessman with a prominent career as a merchant and shipowner. ...
Seah Eu Chin (???; She Youjin) (b. 1805, Guangdong, China–d. 23 September 1883, Singapore) was a wealthy Teochew merchant who made his fortune from the cultivation of pepper and gambier. A prominent member of the Chinese community in early colonial Singapore, Seah is also well known as the founder of...
Raffles College was set up in 1928 at 469 Bukit Timah Road as a college for higher education in the arts and sciences. Its formation was the result of a scheme to commemorate the centenary of the founding of Singapore by Stamford Raffles (Sir). In 1949, Raffles College merged with...
Song Hoot Kiam (b. 1830, Malacca–d. 7 October 1900, Singapore), after whom Hoot Kiam Road is named, is reputedly the forefather of the oldest Straits Chinese Christian family in Singapore. Influenced by sinologist and missionary James Legge, Song travelled to England to pursue his Christian education between 1846 and 1848....
Echigoya was a Japanese fabric store established around 1907 on Middle Road. It was famous for its fine fabrics and garments, and tailoring of Japanese fashionwear. Echigoya closed down following the Japanese surrender in 1945 during World War II. It resumed business in 1955, but closed permanently in 1977....
Lee Cheng Yan, also known as Lee Cheng Yam, (b. 1841, Malacca, Straits Settlements–d. 18 May 1911, Singapore), was a merchant and philanthropist. He was one of the founders of the Straits Steamship Company (part of Keppel Corporation today), and helped start a number of schools in Singapore. ...
The Singapore Polo Club was formed in 1899, following earlier unsuccessful attempts to start such a club in Singapore. Play began at the Singapore Sporting Club but moved to Balestier in 1914 when the Polo Club set up its own premises there. It moved to its current location at Thomson...