1 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Savor Protection of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: I'm Any Rees and I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, and today we 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: have an episode for you about Lotus Route. Yes, and 4 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: I was so excited about it. I put an exclamation 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: point after our opening line, which I shouldn't have to 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: write in here, but I still do, because who knows 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: what could happen if I don't. It's to be fair. 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: You do a different opening line for stuff Mom never 9 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: told you, and you do record that more often, or 10 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: you say it more often than you say this one. 11 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: Your brain can get jumbled with those kinds of things, 12 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: for sure. We've talked about that before, Lauren. Were the 13 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: things you say, like in every episode, like the outro 14 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: for you or the intro for me. Your brain can 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: if you think about it too hard, Oh yeah, yeah, 16 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: grinds to a halt. Yeah no, I I eat y'all. 17 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: And Andie can attest to this. Literally, every time I 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: do that outro, it is not written down and it 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: hasn't shanged aged. And I don't know two or three 20 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: d episodes now, um, but for sure, uh, I have 21 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: to close my eyes in order to concentrate hard enough 22 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: to say it every time, and we we get through it. 23 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: You know, we have to have these little tricks, but 24 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: we get through it every time. Yeah, with the help 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: of our superproducers for sure. Absolutely. Yes. But as we 26 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: record this, Lunar New Year is coming up this Sunday, 27 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: January twenty at the beginning of it. Yes, and we 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: thought the lotus root would be a good topic. Yeah. Yeah, 29 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: because it is incorporated in um a number of dishes 30 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: from a number of culinary traditions of into lunar New 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: Year's celebrations. Yes. And I know I've talked about this before. Uh. 32 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: I have very much enjoyed celebrating lunar New Year in 33 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: the past with a group of friends or we go 34 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: to dim Sum and do it um. The pandemic kind 35 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: of put a stop to that for a while. So 36 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: I I knew I had had lotus root, but I 37 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: don't think when I saw pictures of it, I was like, 38 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: oh that, I don't think that's what I was thinking of. 39 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: When I thought, okay, yeah, I realized that what I 40 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 1: had thought was a filling of lotus root in various 41 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: pastries that I've had, like moon cakes and stuff that 42 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: is actually lotus seed. Um. But yeah, but I've definitely 43 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,959 Speaker 1: had like like slices fried and stuff before. It's it's 44 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 1: it's I like a root. It's tasty. I also like 45 00:02:41,440 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: a root. It is tasty and it's cool looking honestly, 46 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: all right, yeah, um oh, I did a total side note, 47 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: like there was no way for me to work this 48 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: into the actual outline, but um but I found it 49 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: so fascinating, um that I decided to include this as 50 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:02,119 Speaker 1: a like cultural like us note. I found this whole 51 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: paper about the environmental sustainability of growing conditions of lotus 52 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: plants with different aquatic creatures like fish versus shrimp, and 53 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: like different stuff like that. And now I want to 54 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 1: build an aquarium that incorporates lotus so much I think 55 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: you should. I don't know why you're acting like this 56 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: is a thing you shouldn't be doing. The expense is 57 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 1: the reason why I'm acting like I shouldn't do it. Um, 58 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: But like I have this number of things on the 59 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 1: list ahead of second aquarium that are a little bit 60 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:51,119 Speaker 1: more pressing. Um. But well, it's good to have goals. 61 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: You're right, I'm going to root for you for this 62 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: lotus root for you. Um Hey, that's cool. I love 63 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: when we find these very specific papers. It just brings 64 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: joy to my heart. So good, especially when they talk 65 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: about srimp. Yeah, yes, yes always. You can see our 66 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: Lunar New Year episode for more. We've also done a 67 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: lot of foods related to Lunar New Year as episodes, 68 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: so yeah, and various other rhizome related episodes. Of Ginger 69 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: is the one that I'm coming up with the off 70 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: the top of my head. Um. But now I'm like, 71 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: did we do Ginger? I think we did? We did great? Good? Yes, 72 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:48,119 Speaker 1: someone can correct me that. I'm pretty sure we did. Yes. Well, 73 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: I guess that brings us to right question. It does 74 00:04:52,160 --> 00:05:00,800 Speaker 1: Lotus root? What is it? Well, Lotus root is the edible, 75 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: bold structure of the lotus plant, so so botanically. Um, 76 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: it's a storage space for starches and other nutrients that 77 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: the plant needs to to grow and to flour, and 78 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: that's why humans like eating it too. Um. It's relatively 79 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: mild in flavor, but but the texture is sort of 80 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,679 Speaker 1: creamy and crunchy at the same time, like like crisp, 81 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: but in a in a tender way. Um. It can 82 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: be cooked up in any number of ways and used 83 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: in savory or sweet dishes. Um. It's often used as 84 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: like a tasty garnish, especially for special occasion dishes, partially 85 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: because in cross section it's got this really pretty, almost 86 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: um lacy sort of look. Because because the root is 87 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: shot through long ways with a series of holes. Yeah. Um, 88 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 1: it's like a it's like a more decorative hiccama uh 89 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: or or like a like a potato that's that's standing 90 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: up for itself a little bit more. Yeah yeah, uh 91 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: it's um it is. It's like proof that beauty isn't 92 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: always skin deep. Like sometimes it's got roots that go 93 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: all the way down again. So true, so beautiful. You 94 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: never know what's going on with somebody, you know, you 95 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 1: never know what's going on with your root into it 96 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 1: until you cut it cross wise and see what kind 97 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: of pretty pattern it has. All right, Well that metaphor 98 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: has thoroughly escaped us. Um. Alright, so so yes, so um. 99 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: Edible Lotus roots are not true roots. Um. They are 100 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: the starchy rhizome of plants in the genus n Lumbo nlumbo. 101 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 1: Sure one of those. Uh. There are only two species 102 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: in this genus, um and Ludia, or the American lotus 103 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: and an Nusifera or the Indian lotus um. But there 104 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: are a bunch of cultivars and hybrids. These are These 105 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,919 Speaker 1: are aquatic plants that grow in relatively still fresh water 106 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: ponds streams. Delta's stuff like that. They grow their true 107 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: roots and their rhizomes down into the soil of the 108 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: pond bed and then sprout these long stems up to 109 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: the surface of the water. Um. The leaves will grow 110 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: add or above the surface, and then they produce these 111 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: really pretty flowers in shades of white and pink and 112 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: yellow that look a little bit like water lilies. Yeah. Um. 113 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: The flowers have a have a broad, flat structure at 114 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: their center that will develop into and honestly nightmarish seed 115 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 1: pod um like like, these seed pods are like one 116 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: of the images that's used in demonstrating um typophobia, the 117 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: fear of grouped holes. You know. Yeah, like if like 118 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: if you think of what you think of when you 119 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: think of that, you're probably thinking of a lotus seed head. 120 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: Oh whoam Yeah, so that's cool. Um. I love how 121 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: we went from like it's this beautiful thing to terrifying 122 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: holes you can fall in through now yeah. Uh, you know, 123 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: the roots of beauty can also be terrifying. Yeah, as 124 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 1: we all learn from glad reel Um. Sure, okay, all right. 125 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: All the parts of the plant are edible um and 126 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 1: are used in various cuisines around the world. The seeds 127 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: can be ground into a paste and used to make 128 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: beverages or in pastries like again moon cakes, or in 129 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: other desserts. The stems are used as a vegetable, the 130 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: leaves as wrappers for um, for steaming rice and other stuff. 131 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: The flowers are mostly ornamental but can be used to 132 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 1: make tea um and different varietals are grown for different purposes. 133 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: But those starchy rhizomes are arguably the meat of the plant. Uh. 134 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: They're a fall to winter crop and they grow in 135 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: these in these clusters that look a little bit like um, 136 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: like fat links of sausage um under their kind of 137 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: tannish skin. They're they're creamy to crisp, white in color 138 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: and have yeah, these sort of irregular rings of roundish 139 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: holes shot through the blank wise. They're prepared by by 140 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: peeling and then slicing crosswise to reveal that lacey pattern 141 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 1: of the holes, and then a boiled or steamed or 142 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: stir fried or deep fried or braised, pickled or preserved 143 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: in syrup. You can often find lotus root sold um 144 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: already peeled and sliced, canned or frozen or fresh um. 145 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: By fresh, I mean it'll be like badge in a 146 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: solution of salt water or maybe mild vinegar to preserve 147 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: the color and the flavor is mild a little bit 148 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: as sweet, tangy, creamy. Yeah. Uh. The slices are used 149 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 1: as a as a crunchy, tender vegetable in stir fries 150 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: and soups. They can be deep fried to make a 151 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: crunchy or crisp snack. In some preparation, the holes of 152 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 1: the roots might be stuffed with other things like a 153 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: like a mixture of horseradish and miso um or maybe 154 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: with with sweetened sticky rice, and then the slices might 155 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: be like battered and fried or or cooked up in 156 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: a syrup. In terms of the sticky rice, one, I've 157 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: never had that that way, and I want it right 158 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: now immediately. Uh. It can also be the root can 159 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: also be processed into a powder and then used in 160 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: like puddings or jellies or other dishes like that. Mm hmmm, 161 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 1: a lot of uses. Yeah, oh yeah, well, what about 162 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: the nutrition by themselves. Loves fruits are pretty good for you. 163 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 1: Blow and sugar and fat, a little bit of protein 164 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,439 Speaker 1: and fiber, a good spread of micronutrients. They are a 165 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: little bit on the starchy end, so they will help 166 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: fill you up, but to keep you going param with 167 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: a protein and some fat and you know, all all 168 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 1: bets are off by the time you've stuffed them with 169 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 1: glutinous rice and drizzled them with a whole bunch of syrup. 170 00:10:55,880 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: Like that's a that's a different situation, but a delicious Yes. Yes, 171 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: we do have some numbers for you. Okay, so I 172 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: couldn't find too much, but China Daily reported that five 173 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 1: hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand hectares are growing lotus 174 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: root across China, largely concentrated in Hubei Province, specifically Wuhan, 175 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: which is where I lived for a couple of months. 176 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: Cool uh And just for some context there, like a 177 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: productive hector of of lotus farmland might produce some twenty 178 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 1: five metric tons of lotus rout a year, so multiply 179 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: that by five hundred to seven hundred thousand, and that's 180 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: that's like a bunch yeah, yeah, it's a bunch, and 181 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: that's just in China. Speaking of China, research has found 182 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 1: at least a three hundred and ten varietals of rhizome 183 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: lotus alone being grown there. Yeah. Uh and um, all right, 184 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: duck fact of the episode. Uh, there's almost two point 185 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: five million dollars worth of damage done to lotus crops 186 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 1: by ducks every year in Japan. Um. It is difficult 187 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: to research and prevent because this this, this duck damage 188 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 1: mostly occurs at night, those ducks. I it is. Look, 189 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: it's a serious economic and agricultural problem. And yes, I 190 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 1: mostly included this fact because I wanted to say the 191 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 1: words duck damage. It was pretty good. Yeah, pretty fun. 192 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: Hard too hard to not do that when you have 193 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: the opportunity, I understand. Um. I couldn't find any specific numbers, 194 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: but I did see several sources reporting that the lotus 195 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: market is growing, um and some of the some of 196 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: the numbers suggested quite rapidly, but a lot of that 197 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: was behind pay walls, and I couldn't sure. Yeah, I 198 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: couldn't verify it for sure, but I would be sense 199 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: to me. Yeah, as as a more culinary cultural practices 200 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: spread mm hmmm. Uh, Well, we do have some history 201 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: for you, Oh we do, and we are going to 202 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 1: get into that as soon as we get back from 203 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: a quick break for a word from our sponsors, and 204 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: we're back. Thank you sponsor, Yes, thank you. UM And okay, 205 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,319 Speaker 1: so again, there are two species of lotus, one native 206 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: to North and Central America and the other to Asia. 207 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: Native Americans have also traditionally used the plant as a 208 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: food source, but today we are mostly talking about the 209 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: Asian native varieties. Yes, and also once again, unfortunately couldn't 210 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: find too many resources that I trusted about this UM 211 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: And I always listeners, count on you because you're all amazing, 212 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: and we answer our call if you have any UM. 213 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: But yeah, just to just to throw that out there. 214 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:08,440 Speaker 1: And then also there were a lot of side quests 215 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: that happened, and some of these were like, oh, okay, 216 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: so this is a separate this is a whole separate 217 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: thing and not really what Yeah. Yeah, I think that 218 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: they're going to need to be other episodes about other 219 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: parts of the lotus and their history and uses. Yes, okay, 220 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: but for today what we have when it comes to 221 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: the origins UM. Some historians specifically cite India UM Australia, 222 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: New Guinea and some of the Middle East is where 223 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,880 Speaker 1: it might have rid the lotus route might have originated. UM. 224 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: I couldn't quite nail down specifics on the date, but 225 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: thousands and thousands of years seems to be the consensus. 226 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: Thousand thousands of years ago UM. Some numbers claimed it 227 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: has been cultivated for at least three thousand years in 228 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: Asia specifically, for a long time, folks in Asia and 229 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: perhaps specifically China have used it medicinally or even aesthetically. 230 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 1: I saw a lot of things about that, um, and 231 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: it was viewed as a cooling food, something you might 232 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: eat to cool you down. Yes, and the lotus route 233 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: has a long history of being prized in China, and 234 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: for some it's or the lotus plant in general, uh 235 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: symbolized purity, enlightenment, fertility, rebirth, and abundance. And a part 236 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: of this is because how the flower would emerge from 237 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: the swamp like muddy swamp. I read in a lot 238 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: of places with beautiful white petals. Yeah, yeah, that the 239 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: flowers are really significant in artistic and religious symbolism. You've 240 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: probably seen any number of examples of what's called a 241 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: lotus throne in art like a sort of pedestal upon 242 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:53,440 Speaker 1: which a revered figure stands. Yes, and it is a 243 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 1: special symbol of Buddhism in China. The lotus itself is 244 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,800 Speaker 1: this beloved thing that is used represent the Goddess of Mercy, 245 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: which different podcasts but has a many many interpretations and personas. 246 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: But in Sanskrit their name translates to born of the 247 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: lotus um, and so vendors often self folded lotus buds 248 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: outside of temples dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy for 249 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: visitors to leave them as offerings, and in many depictions 250 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: her she is standing or sitting on a lotus flower. 251 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: Mm hmmm. One source reports that as far back as 252 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: six nine, Buddhist monks of the Big Stone Temple of 253 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 1: Baosha Mountain started cultivating lotus um. It's also important in 254 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: Hinduism and was revered in ancient Egypt too. But as always, 255 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: we would love for listeners to write in and confirm, 256 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 1: correct or add anything into this. Absolutely. Oh yes. When 257 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: we're talking about these cultural things, it's always kind of 258 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,200 Speaker 1: like we need your we need the personal experience knowledge, yes, yes, yes, 259 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,400 Speaker 1: sus yes, So no one is exactly sure how far 260 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: back Lunar New Year goes, but most estimates put it 261 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 1: around three thousand, five hundred years ago, and given that 262 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: Lotus was available around Dish that time, that it was 263 00:17:18,040 --> 00:17:22,360 Speaker 1: prized that the names uh and symbolism had a lot 264 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: going on when it came to what people wanted in 265 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: the New Year. We talked about that in our Lunar 266 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: New Year episode as a lot of times there's kind 267 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:32,719 Speaker 1: of pun involved or something. Yes, it's yes, um. And 268 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: on top of that, the leaves themselves of the Lotus 269 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: were so handy in wrapping other popular items that was 270 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: something I totally forgot about. It is so true, Um, 271 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: including sticky rice and a sort of opening of the 272 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: treasure type. Dish says to reason that the Lotus has 273 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,159 Speaker 1: been involved almost since the beginning of Lunar New Year's celebrations. 274 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: To me, Um and I saw it a couple of places, 275 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: but I couldn't. I didn't get the like Horror wanted. Yeah, sure, sure, 276 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,119 Speaker 1: but it's see I mean, like the ven diagram seems 277 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:10,479 Speaker 1: like it lines up? It does it does? Um. Jumping 278 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: way ahead. In two poet Alfred Tennyson published a collection 279 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: of poems that included one titled the lotus eaters um 280 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: And this was inspired by Greek myth mentioned in the 281 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: Odyssey and in it um Odysseus came across this island 282 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:31,840 Speaker 1: where everyone eats lotus roots. People who ate the route 283 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: became blissfully ignorant or forgetful. They refused to leave and 284 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: had to be dragged back to the boat chain to 285 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 1: the boat two to be convinced um. And this went 286 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: on to inspire the r M song. Lotus was the 287 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: name of a White Lotus episode which includes a recitation 288 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: of part of the poem. And I'm a huge I 289 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: love talking about tropes. Laura knows a lot of times 290 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: in our pre episode discussions, I'm like, God, this trope, 291 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,159 Speaker 1: We've got to outpack it. Um. There's one called lotus 292 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 1: eater machine, which is simply that trope of a villain 293 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: convincing you of a of vision or dream or something 294 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 1: is reality when it's not reality. Yeah. And uh, and 295 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: and the the the hero being stuck in this dream 296 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 1: world and not wanting or not being able to get out. Yes. 297 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: And there are a lot of theories breaking a part 298 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 1: of this whole, this whole ancient Greek myth that it 299 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: probably wasn't lotus root they were writing about? Um? But yeah, yeah, 300 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: yes uh. In a night book, American journalist Emily Han 301 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,320 Speaker 1: wrote that lotus was more of a thing of poetry 302 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: then a thing of taste in the East. However, historians 303 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: argue that eating lotus froot has less to do with 304 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 1: poetry in China but more out of a necessar city 305 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: and a desire to make use of everything possible. So 306 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:06,120 Speaker 1: basically this person was writing like, Oh, it's just sort 307 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 1: of a pretty thing. It's a symbol, right, But that 308 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: did not match with the reality of what was going on. Yeah, 309 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 1: it should be both? Why not both? Both? Why not? Um? Uh? Recently, 310 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: because because they grow in the soil of waterways, there's 311 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:33,239 Speaker 1: been a bunch of research into both possible contamination of 312 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 1: lotus roots with with heavy metal pollution and into using 313 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: lotus plants to help clear waterways of pollution. Like this, 314 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: so really fascinating on both ends. That is fascinating. Um. 315 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:52,160 Speaker 1: And then I just wanted to end here. There's an amazing, 316 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 1: beautifully written piece on Oxford, American written by SNI and 317 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: I hope I'm not butchering that scene in a chin 318 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: about the lotus and her memories of the lotus highly recommended. Um, 319 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 1: it's just really beautiful. Here's a sample. As a kid, 320 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: my absolute favorite thing to do was to walk around 321 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: Westlake in my rain boots during a summer storm, stepping 322 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: into every puddle in my path. When I finally grew 323 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: exhausted from all that splashing, I would stand still, holding 324 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 1: my breath to watch water roll off the lotus leaves. 325 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,600 Speaker 1: Rain would fall into the glossy leaves and form individual 326 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,239 Speaker 1: drops that were so around, so full, so perfect. They 327 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,480 Speaker 1: would then roll all around the leaf as if they 328 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: were teasing the other droplets, getting bigger and rounder on 329 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: their way, eventually falling to the leaf's center, where all 330 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: the droplets beaded together. When the bead got large and 331 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: heavy enough, the wind would inevitably make the leave tremble, 332 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: catapulting it into the pond. It made the most wonderfully 333 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: playful sound. I later learned that lotus leaves stay dry 334 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: because of their super hydrophobic surfaces. The nano structure of 335 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,719 Speaker 1: the leaves surface is woven tightly together with micro bumps 336 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: all long its edges. This means lotus sleeves are not 337 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,719 Speaker 1: only water repellent, but they are also self cleaning. As 338 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: water droplets roll around the leaf, they attract small particles 339 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 1: of dirt. Because lotus sleeves clean themselves, they also make 340 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: the perfect wrappers for our regional cuisine. Long long before 341 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: the invention of plastic wraps, many dim sum and dessert 342 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: dishes were traditionally wrapped and dried lotus leaves. I love that. 343 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,360 Speaker 1: That is so lovely, like the painting of the picture, 344 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: the setting of the scene, and then like the sound 345 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: I can imagine that, I can hear it, and then 346 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 1: I love the kind of that's totally our jam word 347 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: and the perfect yes and used for all these dishes. 348 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: And that's just another example of like, you know, how 349 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: food can transport you and these celebrations can transport you. 350 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: But also I hadn't thought about that. I wish I had, 351 00:22:53,560 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: But like the lotus sleeves as a wrapping. Yeah, when 352 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:06,719 Speaker 1: we finally dive into our dim Sum Mini series expedition, 353 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: I uh fugue state. Yeah, it's it's going to be. 354 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: We're definitely gonna have to talk more about all of that. Yes, Oh, 355 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: I look forward to it, even though I'm already preemptively 356 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: overwhelmed by it, But look forward to it. Yes, yes, 357 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: so well, I think that's what we have to say 358 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: about Lotus Root for now it is again, we would 359 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: love to hear from y'all and uh and we do 360 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,719 Speaker 1: have some listener mail prepared for you, and we will 361 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 1: get into that as soon as we get back from 362 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:40,000 Speaker 1: one more quick break for a word from our sponsors. 363 00:23:48,920 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 1: We're back than yes, thank you, and we're back fireworks. Oh. 364 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 1: I was going to do the blank ruts, but I 365 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,479 Speaker 1: feel like I've done a lot of the spiral motion 366 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 1: lately in the listener email jingle. I put some thought 367 00:24:11,119 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: into this. I promise not a lot, but I do 368 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:22,560 Speaker 1: put some thought into it. Uh. So we have one 369 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: epically amazing listener email for you today. It's kind of long, 370 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 1: so we're just doing one. Um, but it is so good. 371 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,360 Speaker 1: I'm so excited about it. Um So, if you remember 372 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: Megan listener, Megan wrote in about being Nerd sniped about 373 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: this question of whether or not marshmallows and their thermo 374 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:54,959 Speaker 1: quality make a hot chocolate cool down faster, keep it 375 00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:00,399 Speaker 1: warmer for longer, longer, and had said that they were 376 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: going to take this question to Uh. There were a 377 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: holiday party, yes, and we begged shamelessly. Uh to please 378 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 1: please follow up if you do it, and Megan did. 379 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: Megan did this, followed up with an amazing thing. Laura 380 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: and I are going to split this because it's amazing. Yes, yes, 381 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: all right, Megan wrote, I have results. Since I'm geeking 382 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: out about this anyway, here's a fake laboraport for you 383 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: with my findings. Motivation. Determine how the addition of marshmallows 384 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 1: affects the temperature of a cup of hot chocolate. The 385 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: marshmallows on top of the liquid act as an insulator, 386 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,120 Speaker 1: preventing heat being transferred from the liquid to the air 387 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: around it, but they also melt, which is a phase 388 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: change that requires energy to be added to the marshmallow 389 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,160 Speaker 1: from the liquid, which would cool the liquid down own. 390 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,280 Speaker 1: This experiment will determine which of these factors contribute most 391 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: to the final temperature. Procedure. Heat water in a large 392 00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: urn and dispense into identical cups, so all cups of 393 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: hot chocolate will be made with the same temperature of water. 394 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,960 Speaker 1: Bonus party attendees also get a source of water for 395 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: their own warm beverages. Follow instructions on the hot chocolate mix. 396 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: Add recommended amount of mixed two cups of hot water, 397 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:31,879 Speaker 1: stir until fully dissolved. Add marshmallows to one cup. I 398 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: use three large ones. Measure temperatures that both comes at 399 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: regular ish intervals without mixing or otherwise disturbing the liquids. 400 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 1: I used my instant read thermometers from home, but a 401 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: colleague of mine shout out to Adam pointed out that 402 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:48,639 Speaker 1: there are fancy thermal probes for the lab courses that 403 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,479 Speaker 1: would read the tempts and make a plot automatically. So 404 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,120 Speaker 1: we set up another two cups of hot chocolate using 405 00:26:54,160 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 1: that thermometer, following steps one through three, multiple trials, Okay, 406 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: results and discussion. Marshmallows keep hot chocolate warmer than no marshmallows. 407 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 1: Those setups show the same behavior. We're both cups with 408 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: and without marshmallows cool, but the cup with marshmallows is 409 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: consistently one to two degrees celsius or two to three 410 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:23,080 Speaker 1: degrees fahrenheit warmer than the cup without marshmallows. See plots 411 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: top as data taken with instant wreath thermometers. Bottoms data 412 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:30,159 Speaker 1: from the lab thermometer red equals marshmallow blue eagules no 413 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: marshmallows for both plots. Noticed that the time scales are different, 414 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,560 Speaker 1: with the top plot going for ninety minutes while the 415 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,120 Speaker 1: bottom only last thirty minutes. As I realized while discussing 416 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: the experiment with the student, the energy needed to melt 417 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: the marshmallows will be very small due to their very 418 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,600 Speaker 1: small mass, so it will not remove enough energy from 419 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,200 Speaker 1: the hot chocolate to counteract the heat retained by their 420 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: insulating effect. Okay, she continues, Um, there are a few 421 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,960 Speaker 1: caveats to the six speariment. First, I didn't weigh the 422 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:04,320 Speaker 1: amount of hot chocolate powder in each cup, so that 423 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: might have made some cups more or less chocolate, though 424 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: I don't believe this would have a big effect on 425 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 1: the outcome. A future, more precise trial could be done 426 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 1: to eliminate this issue. Second, as you can see in 427 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: the plots, uh, the cups didn't start exactly the same temperature, 428 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: though the difference is only about point five degrees celsius. 429 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: I suspect this is because of the heat lost during 430 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 1: the time between making the first and second cups of 431 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,400 Speaker 1: hot chocolate. This amount of time could be reduced by 432 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: reversing the order of making the hot chocolate up, put 433 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: the powder in the cup first and then add the 434 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 1: hot water, and having multiple people stir the cups so 435 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: it happens at the same time rather than one after 436 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 1: the other. Finally, as mentioned in the procedure section um, 437 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: the cups were not mixed after the initial preparation, which 438 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,000 Speaker 1: is not a good model of how people drink hot chocolate, 439 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: and left the melted marshmallow foam sitting on top of 440 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 1: the liquid, which may have insulated the hot chocolate longer 441 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: than would be typical. Future your work, the first step 442 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,480 Speaker 1: to expand on these results would be to actually weigh 443 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: the hot chocolate mix and each cup to ensure each 444 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 1: cup has the same amount, and to add the water 445 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,040 Speaker 1: after so that the hot chocolate is prepared and as 446 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: close to the same amount of time as possible to 447 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,480 Speaker 1: reduce the difference in initial temperature. Next, the cups could 448 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,200 Speaker 1: be stirred or otherwise mixed after the initial preparation to 449 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 1: simulate how a cup of liquid is mixed while someone 450 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 1: is taking a sip of it. We could also remove 451 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,440 Speaker 1: a sip's worth of liquid each time this is done 452 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,480 Speaker 1: to make the experiment even more realistic. Third, I'm interested 453 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:33,840 Speaker 1: in how other types of marshmallows and toppings affect the temperature. 454 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,120 Speaker 1: I wanted to try whipped cream, mini marshmallows, and marshmallow 455 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,560 Speaker 1: fluff during this experiment, but I was limited by the 456 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: number of instant read thermometers that I own. With the 457 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: lab thermometers, more toppings could be included. Finally, the department 458 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: also has thermal imaging cameras that can be plugged into 459 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 1: a smartphone, so it would be interesting to see what 460 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: the cups look like using those. Mostly, the thermal imaging 461 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: camera lab is one of my favorites, so I want 462 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 1: more reasons to use the cameras and then write attached 463 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 1: attached our graph plots UH, which are excellent and do 464 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: show right like I mean, I believe is a statistically 465 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 1: significant gap in the temperature between right no marshmallow and 466 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:20,760 Speaker 1: marshmallow cups of hot chocolate UM in both experiments. She continues, 467 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,640 Speaker 1: as always, thanks for the great podcast. This was a 468 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: lot of fun for me to do, and the rest 469 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: of the department was also entertained, so thank you for 470 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: inspiring this experiment. UM Best Megan ps. I wrote this 471 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:35,920 Speaker 1: email while listening to the Christmas ham episode and have 472 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 1: a couple of comments at one. If you're looking for 473 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: ham recipes to try, my favorite ham recipe comes from 474 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:45,080 Speaker 1: Julia Child. The ham braised in madeira and a mushroom 475 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: and cream sauce. She recommends to go with it. It's 476 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,320 Speaker 1: not specifically a Christmas recipe, but it's so good. Um two. 477 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 1: I was delighted to hear you read my original message 478 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: and am now even more excited to share my results. Oh, 479 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:03,840 Speaker 1: I mean the pleasure and honor is ours is Oh 480 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:09,640 Speaker 1: my heck? Is this the coolest? Is so good? There 481 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: are graphs every everyone there, listeners, there are graphs involved. 482 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 1: There's THIRDO imaging equipment mentioned. It was a holiday party experiment. 483 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: People got in. People got into it right like people. Yeah, 484 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:27,160 Speaker 1: like they had like they had like ideas and opinions 485 00:31:27,200 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: and like the future like future work where the improvements 486 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 1: could be made, which I hope you're right in again, 487 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 1: I I all, I also deeply want to see these 488 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: thermal images. Yes, yes, I agreed. I love it and 489 00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: I love how many people were like, you know, we 490 00:31:50,280 --> 00:31:52,680 Speaker 1: need to take an account the sipping or like the 491 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: sitting of the marshmallow foam on top, like really well 492 00:31:56,520 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: falling out work. This is good science. This is the amazing, 493 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: the best science I've I'm so happy we kept like 494 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: kind of breaking up during it because we're just thrilled. 495 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:17,160 Speaker 1: If there if there's I mean, I mean, I mean 496 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 1: and super producer Andrew was an absolute professional. I'm sure 497 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: that he made us sound just fine but like but 498 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: we had to stop and giggle in delight a number 499 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: of times while reading through this. So yes, it's excellent. Um, 500 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: please like follow up. Thank you for taking the time 501 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:37,000 Speaker 1: to do this and write this. I love that we, 502 00:32:37,080 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 1: in our own small podcasting way could inspire an experiment 503 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: with this. Yes, yes, yes, yes, and just to you're 504 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,720 Speaker 1: right all right once again? You listeners are the coolest. 505 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 1: Are genuinely yes, yes, so thank you, thank you, Thank 506 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: you so much to Megan for sending this in. If 507 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 1: you would like to write to us, you can. Our 508 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: email is hello at saber pod dot com. We are 509 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 1: also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, 510 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 1: and Facebook at sabre pod and we do hope to 511 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,840 Speaker 1: hear from you. Saber is production of I Heart Radio. 512 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,240 Speaker 1: For more podcasts my heart Radio, you can visit the 513 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 514 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows. Thanks as always to our superproducers 515 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 1: Dylan Fagin and Andrew Howard. Thanks to you for listening, 516 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:23,800 Speaker 1: and we hope that lots more good things are coming 517 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 1: your way.