Have you ever wondered what does taro taste like? If so, then I’ve got some good news for you because I’m about to tell you all about it! As a vegetable lover, I have to admit that taro is a bit of an unusual one. It’s not something that you see in the average grocery store or even in many restaurants. So, naturally, when I first encountered taro I had a lot of questions. In this blog post, I will take you on my personal exploration into the taste of taro and how it compares to other vegetables. Let's get started!
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What is Taro?
Taro is a root vegetable that is native to Africa and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Araceae family of plants and its scientific name is Colocasia esculenta. It has been cultivated for thousands of years and is now grown in many parts of the world, including Hawaii, India, China, and Japan.
The root of the taro plant itself is white or cream-colored with brown skin on the outside. It can be boiled, steamed, or mashed like potatoes and has a nutty flavor with hints of sweetness. It can also be used in soups or stews for added texture and flavor.
Taro can also be dried and ground into flour for baking purposes or used as an alternative to wheat flour in gluten-free recipes.
Taro also goes by several different names around the world such as dasheen (in Jamaica), cocoyam (in Nigeria), gabi (in the Philippines), eddo (in South America), and malanga (in Cuba). No matter what you call it though, one thing remains true - taro is a delicious superfood that deserves more recognition!
What Does Taro Taste Like?
Taro has a unique flavor that can be hard to describe with words. The best way to describe it is by saying that it has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. It also has a slightly starchy texture which makes it perfect for use in dishes like mashed potatoes or soups. The taste of taro is mild enough that you could even eat it raw if you wanted to!
When compared to other vegetables, taro is similar in taste and texture to yams or sweet potatoes. The difference between these two vegetables lies mostly in their color; while sweet potatoes tend to be white or yellowish inside, taro is purple-gray on the outside and white on the inside. Additionally, taro tends to have more of a nutty flavor than its counterparts do.
What is Taro Milk Tea?
Taro tea is a type of bubble tea that is made with taro root powder or mashed cooked taro. It's sweet, creamy, and slightly nutty in flavor with a lovely purple hue from the taro root. This taro bubble tea often contains tapioca pearls, which add an extra layer of sweetness to the drink.
The combination of flavors makes it a delightfully refreshing beverage that’s perfect for summer days or just as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Taro Root Benefits
In addition to being tasty, taro is also incredibly nutritious. It’s high in fiber which helps keep your digestive system healthy and regular; it’s low GI so it won't spike your blood sugar levels; it contains essential minerals like calcium which helps strengthen bones; plus vitamins A & C which help boost immunity.
It's even got some protein too, making it a great meat alternative for vegans & vegetarians! All in all, taro provides many nutritional benefits that make it worth adding to your diet regularly.
How To Cook Taro?
Taro can be cooked in various ways depending on your preferences and what kind of dish you are making.
For example, boiled taro can be used as an ingredient for soups or curries while fried pieces make an excellent side dish or snack food.
It also works well when blended into smoothies or added to baked goods like muffins or bread. There are endless possibilities when it comes to cooking with taro!
5 Delicious Taro Recipes You Need to Try!
Liquid Uses
- Taro Bubble Tea – This is the perfect way to cool down during the hot summer months. All you need is some brewed tea, taro powder, a dash of sugar, and some milk. Mix it all together and you have a delicious and cooling beverage!
- Taro Ice Cream – If you’re looking for something sweet and creamy, this is the recipe for you. All you need is some cream, condensed milk, taro powder, and your favorite cookie or cake crumbles. Mix everything together in a blender and voila - homemade taro ice cream!
Dry Uses
- Taro Bread – This delicious snack is great for those who are always on the go. All you need is some flour, yeast, sugar, salt, butter, or margarine (for flavor), and mashed taro root. Once the dough has risen enough to be worked with, shape it into buns or loaves before baking them in an oven.
- Taro Chips – Who doesn’t love chips? This is a great way to enjoy taro as a side dish or snack. Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Peel the taro root and cut it into cubes. Place the cubes in a bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Transfer the cubes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy your tasty baked taro!
- Taro Powder - Start by roasting the raw taro until it becomes lightly browned and then allow it to cool completely before grinding it into a fine powder using a food processor or blender. Once the powder has been ground, sift out any large pieces that may have been missed during grinding. Finally, store your homemade taro powder in an airtight container for up to 6 months. Use it in your favorite recipes or sprinkle it over dishes as a garnish for added flavor and texture!
People Also Ask [FAQs]
The correct pronunciation of taro is "TAA-row".
Taro root is a vegetable used in a variety of cuisines around the world. It has a mild, nutty taste, starchy texture, and nutrition benefits that make it a healthier alternative to other root vegetables like potatoes.
No, taro and ube are not the same; taro is a root vegetable native to Southeast Asia while ube is a type of yam commonly used in Filipino dessert recipes.
Wrap Up: What Does Taro Taste Like?
- Taro is an incredibly unique and flavorful vegetable. Its nutty flavor and slightly starchy root vegetable texture make it perfect for a variety of dishes from soups to mashed potatoes.
- It’s also versatile enough that you can eat it raw or use taro flour as a substitute for wheat flour in gluten-free recipes.
- Taro milk tea is a delicious and nutritious beverage that can be enjoyed year-round. Not only does it have an intriguing flavor profile but its health benefits make it even more appealing.
- Whether you choose to enjoy your taro as bubble tea or cook with the root itself, there are plenty of ways to incorporate this unique ingredient into your diet.
- With so many options available for how to prepare taro, why not give it a try? You might just find yourself falling in love with this versatile plant!
Recipe
The Perfect Taro Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 2 Tea Bags of Jasmine Green Tea or Black Tea or the equivalent in leaves if available
- 2 Cups of Water
- 2 tablespoon Unsweetened Taro Powder
- 1 cup Coconut Milk or any other dairy or dairy-free preferred milk
- 2 tablespoon Easy-To-Cook Boba or Tapioca Pearls
- 2 tablespoon Taro Syrup
- Ice OPTIONAL: if serving this cold
Instructions
- Start by cooking the easy to cook tapioca or boba pearls as per the package's instructions.
- Once ready, drain them well and add them in a bowl with the taro syrup; adding them to the syrup will prevent them from sticking to each other. Set the bowl aside.
- Heat up the water for the tea to about 180*F [80-85*C] and add the tea to it; allow the tea bags or leaves to simmer for 3-5 minutes. Once ready, remove the tea bags immediately, as overbrewing the tea may make it bitter.
- - OPTIONAL: If drinking this cold, allow the tea to cool down for at least 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, add the coconut milk and taro powder to a bleder jug and blitz together for about 30 seconds, or until there are no lumps of powder left in the beverage.
- Finally, it's time to put all the ingredients together.
- Divide equally the tapioca or bobab pearls with the syrup in two glasses. If serving this cold, add the ice cubes as well.
- In each glass, add half the amount of the tea and half the amount of the taro flavored milk.
- Serve with a large-mouth straw or spoon and enjoy!
Notes
- Taro Powder: If using sweetened taro powder, reduce the amount of taro syrup, as the tea may result too sweet if not.
- Milk: Almond, Soy, and Oat milk are great dairy-free alternatives. Regular dairy milk [any fat percentage] can be used too.
- Tapioca or Boba Pearls: Regular pearls take about 45-60 minutes to cook, which is quite long to prepare a drink, so I recommend using the easy-to-cook version, which usually takes a handful of minutes. Warm pearls taste best, as they are at their softest.
- Taro Syrup Substitute: In a saucepan add equal amounts of dark brown sugar and water and mix well. Put the saucepan on medium heat and bring to a light simmer always stirring; once the sauce starts to thicken [about 3 minutes from simmering] remove it from the pan. This sugar syrup can be prepared with muscovado sugar for a more caramel like taste or caster sugar for a more delicate flavor.
- Sugar-Free: If skipping sugar, add the cooked boba or tapioca pearls to a bowl of cold water to keep them from sticking.
- Serving: If using the pearls, serve with a large mouth straw or a spoon, as a thin straw won't allow them to be enjoyed.
- Nutritional Values: These will greatly vary depending on the milk, powder, syrup, and pearls used, so they are a very generic guideline.
- Storage: Taro Milk Tea without pearls can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to three months. Once the cooked tapioca or boba pearls are added, it must be consumed straight away [or within a couple of hours] for the best taste.
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