Introducing Taro

It my 3rd week at the farm and I start to noticed Taro are growing everywhere!

 

It no surprise, since Taro (Colacasia Esculenta) thrive and survive in tropical habitat and it distribution range from India, South-east Asia, South China, Melanesia and Australia. Taro was also cultivated in temperate latitudes, for instance, in China, Nepal, Japan, Korea, the Mediterranean and New Zealand, when the European navigators documented its presence.

Taro is probably the oldest crop on earth and has been grown in tropical Asia for more than 10,000 years on irrigated terraces.

An interesting fact is in Vanuatu, the birds Gallirallus philippensis (Road runners) eat the fruits & disperse the seed of C. esculenta (Taro).

Taro's primary use is the consumption of its edible corm and leaves.  The plant is toxic because of the presence of  calcium oxalate and the presence of needle-shaped raphides  in the plant cells. 

To minimized the toxin, the tuber is cook or steep into cold water overnight.

Corms of the small round variety are peeled and boiled and can be sold either frozen, bagged in its own liquids, or canned. The leaves are rich in vitamins & minerals.

 Taro can also be sold as an ornamental aquatic plant.