Mai pai | ไม้ไผ่ | Bambuseae
Family: Poaceae - Genus: Bambusoideae
Bamboo can be found everywhere on the premises of TCDF and Eco-Logic Thailand. Behind the accommodation, alongside the staircase going down to the river, around the Food Forest Kitchen Restaurant and alongside the main road.
Bamboos are evergreen perennial flowering plants of the grass family Poaceae.
The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, but it probably comes from the Dutch or Portuguese language, which originally borrowed it from Malay or Kannada.
In bamboo, as in other grasses, the internodal regions of the stem are usually hollow.
Bamboos is known to be some of the fastest-growing plants in the world. Certain species of bamboo can grow 91 centimeter within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost 40 mm an hour
Bamboos are of economic and cultural significance in Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a raw product. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures.
Depending upon species and growing conditions, bamboo shoots typically emerge from early spring to the middle of the growing season. They can be abundant but need to be caught early to avoid bitterness. It is best to harvest the bamboo shoots when they are only 20-30 centimeter or so tall. Bamboo is easy to harvest and prepare.
THE PLANT
Bamboos is known to be some of the fastest-growing plants in the world. Certain species of bamboo can grow 91 centimeter within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost 40 mm an hour
THE LEAVES
Bamboo is a perennial evergreen plant with annual leaf exchange. New leaves emerge in the springtime to gently push off old foliage.
Bamboo leaves are rich in silica flavonoids, amino acids, and phenolic, which can bring a ton of health benefits. The bamboo leaves can be crushed and processed to make bamboo tea. It’s a healthy drink, and you can enjoy a cuppa every day. It will aid digestion and alleviate any digestive problems that you’re having.
THE FLOWERS
Bamboos seldom and unpredictably flower and the frequency of flowering varies greatly from species to species. Once flowering takes place, a plant declines and often dies entirely. In fact, many species only flower at intervals as long as 65 or 120 years.
THE SEEDS
Flowering produces masses of seeds, typically suspended from the ends of the branches. These seeds give rise to a new generation of plants that may be identical in appearance to those that preceded the flowering, or they may produce new cultivars with different characteristics, such as the presence or absence of striping or other changes in coloration of the culms.
BAMBOO SHOOTS
Bamboo shoots or bamboo sprouts are the edible shoots (new bamboo culms that come out of the ground). They are used as vegetables in numerous Asian dishes and broths.
They are sold in various processed shapes, and are available in fresh, dried, and canned versions.
CULINARY USES
Bamboo shoots or bamboo sprouts are the edible shoots (new bamboo culms that come out of the ground). They are used as vegetables in numerous Asian dishes and broths.
They are sold in various processed shapes, and are available in fresh, dried, and canned versions.
Raw bamboo shoots contain natural toxins. The toxins must be destroyed by thorough cooking and for this reason fresh bamboo shoots are often boiled before being used in other ways. The toxins are also destroyed in the canning process.
In Thai cuisine bamboo shoots are called no mai. In our restaurant we serve a red curry with tofu and bamboo shoots, click on the link of the Food Forest Kitchen Restaurant for the recipe.
Bamboo leaves are rich in silica flavonoids, amino acids, and phenolic, which can bring a ton of health benefits. The bamboo leaves can be crushed and processed to make bamboo tea.
NUTRITION
Freshly collected bamboo shoots have good amount of thiamine, niacin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin E .
Also the bamboo shoot based diets are rich source of dietary fibres and phytosterols and less cholesterol contents which make them one of the popular natural health foods.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
In traditional Chinese medicine, bamboo shoots are said to be used to ease labor and the expulsion of the placenta by inducing uterine contractions.
A poultice of the shoots is said to be used for cleaning wounds and healing infections.
Bamboo shoot decoction taken along with honey can be used to treat respiratory disorders.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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