What part of lotus do you eat?
The lotus plants are used in a variety of dishes. The most
commonly used parts of the lotus plant used in cooking are the
roots and stems. Stems are great in salads, and the petals can be
eaten raw, but it is advised that they be cooked first to avoid
parasites. The lotus stamens are dried and made into tea while the
lotus roots are often pickled. Fresh lotus roots have a
brownish-orange color. The older the root is the darker brown the
root becomes. The root has a slightly bitter flavor, but when
peeled, a lot of the bitterness is removed.