this is what a water chestnut looks like pre-showing up in your stir fry at Double Happiness Golden Jade Garden Dragon Palace! did you have any idea? The literal translation of the name (mati) means horse-hoof. eaten raw (sold on the street from big carts peeled and bagged by the hawker) they taste chalky and gross, but host mom boiled them and you can eat the outer skin also and they are crisp and sweet.