Taro is the underground tuber section of a plant called Aracaea who also grows edible heart shaped leaves. Depending on where it is grown, the taro can be white, pink or purple in color. It originated from the tropical regions of South India and South Asia but has been cultivated all over the world: Hawai’i, Venezuela, Brazil and even Egypt. 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.
Taro also goes by the names yu-tou (芋頭), Arrow Root (kolkas), eddoe, toran (토란), saitomo (里芋), pheuak (เผือก), gabi and Khoai môn (amongst other names). With its widespread history also comes many different ways of cooking. (Scroll down for recipes!)
Fun Fact: Taro has a deep connection to Hawaii’s spiritual culture. According to an old traditional folk tale, it is said that it was Wakea the sky father and his daughter Ho`ohokukalani’s first child. However, it was stillborn and therefore buried, only to later grow into Taro. Its brother, Wakea and Ho’ohokukalani’s second child, was the ancestor to the human race.
You can also count on Taro to provide you with tons of nutrients. While you cannot eat it raw, it is high in potassium, fiber, and Vitamin E when cooked properly. This means that Taro can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help you manage your weight. In addition, the Vitamin E acts like antioxidants that protects your cells.
When compared to a sweet potato, it holds more potassium, magnesium and vitamin B. It is also said that because of Taro’s low glycemic index levels it is much healthier for diabetics than potatoes and provides long lasting energy. However, be aware of taro desserts as they may contain a lot of sugar.
Our favorite things to do with Taro here at Boba Time are to make Taro Bubble Tea and Taro Pudding. And of course, we have Taro Powder for your drinks, smoothies, beverages and more.
What’s the most popular bubble tea that’s been sweeping the US? Answer: Taro. Yes, that purple root fruit that you might have either looked at suspiciously or embraced with love.
Lucky for you, we’re here to teach you how to make it so you can have it whenever you want! Now if you find yourself asking, “What is it Taro?”, get some educational information on Taro here.
Ingredients: 1/3 cup (25gms) Taro Powder 3/4 cup (30ML) Hot Water 2-3 tbsp Creamer or 250ML of milk & Sugar/ Brown Sugar (15gms – More if you like it very sweet) or 1 Tablespoon Honey
1. Mix the Taro Powder with the Hot Water. Make sure the powder is well dissolved, because drinks will taste powdery if there is not enough hot water or if not mixed properly.
2. Add Creamer OR Milk (adjust according to your desired creaminess)
3. Add sugar OR Honey OR Brown Sugar (adjust according to you desired sweetness)
4. Add Tapioca Pearls / Boba for that extra layer of flavor that enriches the nuttiness of the Taro.
And that’s it! The hardest part is making it with the right ratios. Once you have found out what you like, Taro Milk Tea will be your favorite drink!
You can buy Boba/ tapioca pearls that can be ready in minutes from us here.
You can shop our Bubble Tea or Boba (in Bengaluru) from www.airmenus.in/bobatime.
You can also buy Boba Time products from Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon Food and MagicPin.
For any bulk inquiries call on +91 9769001968 or email [email protected].
