4th April – 卯月
Most people probably know that 筍 (Takenoko = Bamboo shoot) is edible but did you know that we can only eat few bamboo species?
竹(Take =Bamboo) grows very fast, and within around 10 days, the bamboo shoot becomes hard Take tree. 竹 can live more than 100 years, so it is only the short period that we can get Takenoko.
The bud of the 竹, is the only edible part from bamboo, they grow a lot in the warm regions. Spring to the early summer is the perfect season for Takenoko as in this season Takenoko tend to be soft. To get the perfect soft Takenoko, check the ground. If the bamboo dud is just about to come out to the ground, that is the soft ones. If the Takenoko dud is obviously out from the ground, it is already hard. Another way to tell if it is still edible is, checking the Takenoko skin. When all the Takenoko skin fall off, it is no more bamboo shoot but 竹.
After the rainy day is the time when Takenoko tend to come out. There are some Bamboos that can be grown about 1m per day, so it is better to check the bamboo forest right after the rain.
April to May is the season for Takenoko, and this time people enjoy eating Takenoko in dishes, like in the simmered meals, seasoned rice and so on! Bamboo shoot is even used in Ramen, the square ocher colored ingredient on the top.
Lye, the bitter tastes called 灰汁 (Aku) from the Takenoko will come out as soon as Takenoko is taken from the ground. Therefore, once you get the Takenoko, it is recommended to boil whole part. Cutting the top part off and make a vertical cut, then put the Takenoko into the boiled water. The crunchy texture will captivate you!
Little Japan Dictionary 