Mostly sold in dried, shelled form, the seeds are rich in protein, B vitamins, and dietary minerals.

Dried lotus seeds past their prime oxidize to a yellow brown color.

However, some sellers of dried lotus seeds bleach their products with hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, or other chemicals.

[citation needed] In a 100 gram reference amount, dried lotus seeds contain 332 calories and consist of 64% carbohydrates, 2% fat, 15% protein, and 14% water.

Fresh lotus seeds are sold in street markets and are generally eaten raw by the locals.