Bamboo is a much loved plant, prized for its fast-growing woody stems and can be found in many gardens and across a range of garden styles. Bamboo is also widely grown for its young tender shoots which have a crisp texture and a subtly sweet flavour.
Culinary History of Bamboo
Bamboo shoots have long been a staple in Asian cuisine, particularly in Chinese and Japanese dishes. Records from over 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty mention bamboo shoots as a delicacy.
In Japan, bamboo shoots (takenoko) are a spring delicacy appearing in dishes such as miso soup and tempura.
Bamboo varieties that are edible
Almost all bamboo species produce edible shoots but Phyllostachys, Bambusa and Dendrocalamus are the most popular.
You should do your own research to ensure the variety you are prepapring to eat is safe and prepared correctly as some varieties contain Taxiphyllin.
Planting and Caring for Bamboo
There are over 1000 specieis of bamboo so there is one for just about every region and climate. As a general rule though bamboo enjoys moist, well-drained soil and partial shade to full sun. During the growing season ensure that bamboo receives plenty of water and a protective mulch over particularly cold winters.
Best Practices for Harvesting Bamboo for cooking
To harvest bamboo shoots ready for cooking you need to look around the base of the plant, identify young juvenile shoots and cut them off just above the rhizome (underground stem) at 15cm/6in length.
Once you have cut off the young shoot, peel off the outer sheath and trim the base.
If you will not be cooking the shoots immediately then leave on the outer sheath and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
For longer term storage the shoots can be boiled, fermented or dried thus extending their shelf life.
Culinary uses of Bamboo
Bamboo shoots are a versatile ingredient used in stir fry’s, pickles, rice dishes and more. various cultures have incorporate bamboo into traditional local dishes.
The BBC website has a wonderful selection of bamboo shoot recipes.
The video below provides four recipes utilising bamboo shoots.