Sweet Bamboo, Sweet bamboo shoot, Taiwan giant bamboo

Dendrocalamus latiflorus

Physical Characteristics

Dendrocalamus latiflorus is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 20 m (65ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Vietnam.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots Stem Edible Uses: Young stems - raw or cooked[ 301 ]. Unusually free of any unpleasant taste, even when raw[ 301 ]. Considered to be delicious[ 310 ]. They are also shredded and dried then used in Chinese-style snacks in Japan[ 301 ]. The stems can be 15 - 30cm in diameter[ 266 ]. Young shoots are harvested 7 - 25 days after emergence, when they are 35 - 60 cm tall. Harvesting may start in the 2nd year of growth of a clump[ 310 ]. Harvested shoots are steamed, cut lengthwise, cleaned and sterilized for 15 minutes in pure or salted boiling water before eating or canning[ 310 ]. When boiled in pure water a white compound (containing 90% tyrosine) usually precipitates, which can be removed by boiling for 1.5 hours in a 0.06 - 0.07% citric acid solution, followed by 12 hours of washing. For the production of fermented dry shoots, the middle parts of shoots are boiled first and then left to ferment for 2 - 4 weeks, and subsequently sliced into parts of 4 - 5 cm x 2.8 mm[ 310 ]. In the Philippines harvested culms are either dried directly in the sun or shade or first kept in running water for several weeks before being air dried[ 310 ].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known