Pheuak| เผือก | Colocasia esculenta
Family: Araceae - Genus: Colocasia
Taro can be found near the bungalows on Mount Never-rest and in Paksong area.
Taro is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible tubers, a root vegetable known as taro. The plat is used as vegetables for their tubers, their leaves and stems.
Taro tubers are harvested when leaves turn yellow and start to die. Taro leaves can be picked as soon as the first leaf has opened.
THE PLANT
Taro is a perennial, tropical plant.
Leaves are up to 40 centimeter by 25 centimeter. They are dark green above and light green beneath and heart shaped. The stem can be 1.2 meter high.
The tuber, the leaves and the stem of the tarot plant are all edible.
NOTE: all edible parts of the taro plant contain high levels of oxalates that can be poisonous when consumed raw. It’s important to properly cook them to avoid harmful side effects.
THE LEAVES
Leaves are up to 40 centimeter by 25 centimeter. They are dark green above and light green beneath, heart-shaped.
The leaves of the tarot plant are edible.
NOTE: The leaves of the taro plant contain high levels of oxalates that can be poisonous when consumed raw. It’s important to properly cook them to avoid harmful side effects.
THE FLOWERS
Flowers of the taro plant apear as a long, narrow spike. The length varies. The color ranges from pale yellow, to peachy, to strong golden.
THE TUBER
The taro tuber is a starchy root vegetable.
It has a brown outer skin and white flesh with purple specks throughout. When cooked, it has a mildly sweet taste and a texture similar to potato.
Taro root is a great source of fiber and other nutrients and offers a variety of potential health benefits, including improved blood sugar management, gut and heart health.
NOTE: all edible parts of the taro plant contain high levels of oxalates that can be poisonous when consumed raw. It’s important to properly cook them to avoid harmful side effects.
THE STEM
Taro stems are the young leaf stalks of the Taro plant. The stems are edible. The stems from the young, new-growth leaves are usually harvested. Often the young, as-yet unrolled leaves and stems are harvested together, and cooked together in vegetable dishes or soups. Taro stems are fibrous, so they must be peeled prior to preparing. The tough outer layer is removed to reveal a more tender stalk within. .
Taro stems MUST BE COOKED to remove the calcium oxalate that can cause irritation to the mouth and throat.
CULINARY USES OF TARO
In Thai cuisine, taro is used in a variety of ways. Boiled taro is readily available in many markets, peeled and diced, and eaten as a snack.
Pieces of boiled taro with coconut milk are a traditional Thai dessert.
Raw taro is also often sliced and deep fried and sold in bags as chips. As in other Asian countries, taro is a popular flavor for ice cream in Thailand.
NUTRITION
Taro bulb is a good source of fiber and many vitamins and minerals. Taro bulb has good amounts of various nutrients that people often don’t get enough of, such as fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamins C and E
Taro leaves are a low calorie green leafy vegetable that’s high in potassium, folate, and vitamins C and A.
Taro stems are high in fiber, making them easy to digest. The leaf stalks also contain Beta carotene, calcium and iron and are a good source of vitamins A and C.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF THE TARO PLANT
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Taro has been said to beneficial for many conditions, like:
Cancer Prevention
Reduce Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Blood Pressure and Heart Health
Immune System Health
Cramps
Digestive Health
Enhances Learning
Boosts Vision
Helps Maintain Dental Health
Diabetes
Thickens Hair
Circulation Stimulation
Prevent Bone Loss
Skin Health
More detailed information can be found here.
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!