Sweet and fragrant bamboo shoots

Bamboo shoots are a typical product of the mountains and forests of Son La - Northwest, but perhaps few people know that, among the countless types of bamboo shoots that grow all year round, the bamboo shoots are truly the most delicious and favorite specialty. With bamboo shoots, some people like bitterness, some like sweetness, some like a mixed taste, so each type of bamboo shoot will only suit the taste of a part of the eaters. Only bamboo shoots can harmonize all preferences, the crunchy, sweet, and refreshing taste of the white bamboo shoots easily pleases all diners with different tastes.

Bamboo shoots are sold by Thai people at the City market.

The name "mung boi" is a transliteration of "no boi" in the Thai ethnic language, meaning a sweet bamboo variety. This type of bamboo often grows in large clumps in moist forests with large trunks, short internodes, and hard and sturdy stems. Bamboo shoots grow from old bamboo bushes. Bamboo diggers only need to brush away the layers of dry leaves covering the bamboo roots to easily see the large and small bamboo shoots that are sharp and pointed. If bitter bamboo shoots are only available in late winter and early spring, the bamboo shoot season is from February to April, and the bamboo shoot season is from July to October, then "mung boi" has the longest harvest time. The bamboo shoot season lasts from early April until November as a favor to the people in the highlands of Son La, a precious gift from the mountains and forests reserved for those who have been attached to the great forest for a long time. Unlike bitter bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots, mai bamboo shoots, buong bamboo shoots... which often have a bitter taste and are difficult to eat for most people who have ever eaten bamboo shoots, boi bamboo shoots are very healthy, have a crunchy, sweet taste, are easy to eat and can be processed into many delicious dishes.

Fresh bamboo shoots are dug up, peeled off the old outer skin, put in a pot, filled with water, put on the stove, add firewood to make the fire really big and strong, let the pot of bamboo shoots boil for about 20 minutes, then you can enjoy the original crispy, sweet, and especially delicious taste. Boiled bamboo shoots with "cham cheo" dipping sauce makes the flavor more appealing, you can eat until you are full without getting bored. For the people of the mountainous region, bamboo shoots always hold the number one position in terms of deliciousness, because there is no other type of bamboo shoots that are as crispy and sweet. People can even peel the fresh bamboo shoots to eat with raw vegetables without boiling them. Just slice a little fresh bamboo shoots and put them in a pot of spinach soup or mixed vegetables to have a bowl of sweet and cool summer soup. Or stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat, stir-fried bamboo shoots with wild vegetables, bamboo shoots mixed with white flowers, sliced bamboo shoots stewed with bones,... are all dishes with simple preparation methods but the flavors are indescribably attractive. During the bamboo shoot season, it would be a mistake if the house did not have a few jars of chili bamboo shoots. Fresh bamboo shoots are brought home, just need to be washed, sliced thinly, mixed with crushed garlic, chopped chili, salt, vinegar and then put in a small jar or glass jar to ferment for a few days to have an attractive aroma, suitable to eat with any dish.

Coming to Son La at this time, it is easy to see the image of ethnic women selling bamboo shoots full of bamboo shoots, each one is round and plump, with pure white flesh that is pleasing to the eye. Boiled bamboo shoots combined with spicy dipping sauce are also indispensable in the menu of restaurants specializing in ethnic cuisine . In the morning, if you stop by a pho restaurant and have a jar of bamboo shoots with salt and chili on the table, there is nothing more interesting. Because if you are a Son La person, surely, no one does not like to add a little spicy to their morning pho and do not like the taste of fresh, crispy and sour bamboo shoots, eating once is memorable, addictive and does not want to give up.

For the people of the mountainous region, bamboo shoots are familiar and precious not only because they are benign, delicious, and a gift from the mountains and forests, but also because they are a popular product that helps them earn extra income during the harvest season that lasts more than 9 months a year. This is also a specialty that anyone who comes to Son La this season definitely cannot miss the opportunity to enjoy.

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