Taro Shoots

part of: Taro

Taro shoots are the tender young stems that sprout from the taro corm. They have a mild, slightly earthy flavour and a texture that becomes silky and soft when cooked. The shoots are a popular vegetable in many Pacific Island and Southeast Asian cuisines.

In cooking, taro shoots are typically boiled or braised, often in coconut cream or added to soups and stews. They pair well with rich, fatty ingredients that complement their mild taste. In some traditions, the leaves and stems are wrapped around fillings and slow-cooked.

Like the corm, taro shoots contain calcium oxalate and must be thoroughly cooked before eating. Proper preparation — usually prolonged boiling or cooking in an acidic liquid — breaks down the irritating compounds and renders the shoots safe and pleasant to eat.

Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Taro shoots are harvested from actively growing taro plants by cutting the young, tender stems near the base. They are picked before the stalks become tough and fibrous. After harvesting, the outer skin of the stems is often peeled away, and the shoots are washed and prepared for cooking.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 11kcal
Protein 0.9g
Carbs 2.3g
Fat 0.1g
Fibre 0g Sugar 0g
Mass Distribution

1 shoot is about 83 g — roughly 10 kcal of this.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈0.4kg
Freshwater ≈28L
Land ≈0.3m²

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

Made from
Taro, shoots

In the kitchen

Used as

braised leafy green

Goes well with
coconut milk chili garlic pork shrimp paste
Classic dishes
  • Laing
  • Pinangat
  • Sinigang

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Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

Where to next

made fromTaro, shoots goes well withcoconut milk goes well withgarlic goes well withpork goes well withshrimp paste shares a sourcePoi shares a sourceTaro Chips shares a sourceTaro Leaves shares a sourceTaro Powder shares a sourceTaro Root
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