Ingredient Name: Bamboo (dried), dried bamboo sticks
Chinese Name: 竹 (Zhú)
Dried bamboo is not a common ingredient found in Chinese soups. You will more often find cooked and edible bamboo in stews, dishes, soups and dim sum.
What is this?
- A type of perennial evergreens in the true grass family
- Used in Asia and South East Asia as a food source, building material or a raw product
- Tall, flexible plants that grow to various heights depending on the breed of bamboo
- The edible portions are normally the shoots (newly coming out of the ground) and found in dishes, stews and soups
- The dried bamboos are not often used in an edible format, but used to boil drinks, soups etc….
How do I prepare it?
- Rinse dried bamboo in warm water
Where can I buy this?
- Available in fresh marts in Hong Kong
- Also sometimes available your at your herbalist
What is the cost?
- A bag as picture above cost around $5 HKD
Any benefits?
- Has a naturally sweet taste and is a low-calorie source for potassium
- Used in Chinese medicine to treat infections and helps with healing
Any precautions?
- Dried bamboo are not edible – so be sure to properly strain your herbal teas or drinks
Any substitutes?
- Sugar cane is a good substitute for dried bamboo (especially when boiling drinks or herbal teas)
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