taro, (Colocasia esculenta), also called eddo or dasheen, herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae) and its edible rootlike corm. Taro is probably native to southeastern Asia, whence it spread to Pacific islands and became a staple crop.
Taro is among the most widely grown species in the group of tropical perennial plants that are referred to as “elephant ears” when grown as ornamental plants. In the Philippines, the whole plant is usually referred to as gabi, while the corm is called taro.
What is taro called in India?
Taro, or Colocasia esculenta, is prepared in each state in its own special way. It is called arbi in Hindi, kochu in Bangla, chempu in Tamil, alu in Marathi, kesave in Kannada, chama in Telugu, chembu in Malayalam and venti in Konkani.
Is a taro a potato?
Taro or Potatoes? “When peeled and cooked, [taro] can sometimes be confused for potatoes,” says Msora-Kasago. But taro is a completely different kind of edible tuber than the potato, which has its origins in a less tropical climate.
What is taro called in English? – Related Questions
How healthy is taro?
Taro root is an excellent source of dietary fiber and good carbohydrates, which both improve the function of your digestive system and can contribute to healthy weight loss. Its high levels of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin E also help to maintain a healthy immune system and may eliminate free radicals.
What does taro taste like?
What does taro root taste like? Taro root has a light, slightly sweet, and nutty flavor that goes well with the milk, sugar, and black tea used to make milk tea. The taste is comparable to sweet potato but with a lighter flavor profile and subtle vanilla undertones.
Is taro more healthy than potato?
Taro root contains more than 6 grams of fiber per cup (132 grams) — more than twice the amount found in a comparable 138-gram serving of potatoes — making it an excellent source of fiber (1, 11).
Is taro eaten raw?
Why is taro so popular?
It has a long history in international cuisine: its naturally sweet and nutty flavor makes it extremely popular across the world and can be found in a variety of dishes. Many would compare Taro to a potato as they are both starchy and can be eaten the same ways: fried, mashed, boiled, baked, and roasted.
Does taro taste like popcorn?
Real taro tastes a bit like a potato and is similar to buttered popcorn jelly beans [6]. Milk tea that uses real taro also includes a creamer and sweetener, resulting in a delightfully sweet buttered popcorn-type taste.
This vegetable is also easy to digest and has many healing properties. Taro is also loaded with potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese and copper. Taro also includes several calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E and B vitamins.
Does taro taste nice?
Taro root has a very mild and slightly nutty flavour. It’s often described as a sweeter alternative to potatoes. Once cooked, taro tastes similar to sweet potatoes. Taro absorbs other flavours quite easily, which is what makes it so versatile.
How do you eat taro?
Raw taro is toxic, so you must cook it for consumption. You can prepare taro corms like potatoes—steamed, boiled, fried, roasted, or mashed—or you can pound taro down into a paste or powder. You can use processed taro for baking flour, smoothies, soups, stews, and bubble or boba tea.
Is taro a yam or sweet potato?
The orange sweet potato is also called the Maori name of kumara. Yams and Taro are not of the same family as sweet potato. The Yam is a tropical root originally native to Africa and now grown worldwide.
Is taro a fruit or a vegetable?
Taro (Colocasia esculenta), also called eddo or dasheen, is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia that produces a starchy root vegetable with a brown outer skin and a white flesh with purple specks.
What are the side effects of taro?
Taro Root (Arbi) Side-Effects & Allergies
This can produce a burning sensation and irritation when handled with bare hands or consumed in its raw form. Hence, one should wear gloves while cooking it. Taro root consumption may cause the formation of kidney stones and gout, accompanied by some other health issues.
Taro root is packed with fiber and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and is considered a superfood.
Is taro just purple sweet potato?
Though often generically labeled “purple sweet potato” in the United States, roots like taro, yams like ube, and Okinawan sweet potatoes arrive from totally different plants and totally different parts of the globe. And each carries a distinct flavor.
Does taro turn purple when cooked?
Taro corms are large, with brown, scaly (and sort of hairy) skin and typically a creamy-white interior flecked with purple (although purple and pink varieties exist as well). When boiled or steamed, the corms turn a purple-ish color.
