The Surprising Answer to What Does Taro Taste Like: All You Need To Know

What does taro taste like? This article will help you in answer your question, and additional information about taro will also be provided.

What do you think is a taro and what does taro taste like? You might be pondering about these questions if you belong to those who don’t have any idea about taro. With that, I would like to offer some help. Here, we will discuss some of the essential things associated with taro and of course, you will learn the taste of it. So, keep reading, fellas!

More...

Getting To Know Taro

Referred to as a root vegetable, taro has grown in semi-tropical regions such as South India, Africa, and Oceania. And this root vegetable should not be eaten raw since it has calcium oxalate which is a chemical compound which causes kidney stones.

However, it could be used like the potatoes in curries, baked goods, and desserts. You might also find different varieties of taro from hairy, small, round and elongated. And the color of the flesh might as well vary from pure white to ivory along with flecks of a pale purple.

On the other hand, the skin of taro is furry and brown that might sometimes irritate your skin. And the same with okra, the flesh of the boiled taro could be slimy. Whether steamed or simmered, it has a soft texture, but it remains dry and firm.

What Does Taro Taste Like?

Now, what does taro taste like? It is the right time that we should talk about the taste of taro. As described earlier, it is like a potato with a similar texture that is starchy, and it has a taste which lingers in one’s mouth. But, there’s more to know about the taste of taro.

In general, I could say that taro tastes sweet. It is a lot sweeter compared to a potato but a bit different than the sweet potatoes since it has an earthier flavor reminding a bit taste of vanilla.

These days, people eat taro included in most icy beverages would say that it is rich, sweet, thick and of course, delicious. But, if you eat taro as a vegetable, it could actually have a taste that is the same with the plain potatoes or even sweet potatoes. Indeed, taros could have a light and sweet flavor.

Other varieties of taro could have a plain or bland taste. In fact, these types must be mixed with some other foods or to some other strong-flavored or savory ingredients to make them palatable. And this is also the reason why numbers of countries would use taro as a basic and everyday food.

The Benefits Of Taro

Aside from knowing the taste of taro, have you also wondered about the good side of this root vegetable? Well, if you ever doubt about the health benefits that taro could provide, why not consider the following:

And there are other health benefits out of consuming taro. There could also be B vitamins and folate in taro that could help in boosting your energy and metabolism. Zinc and copper are also vital nutrition that is good for thyroid health. And copper and iron might help you improve blood circulation together with preventing anemia.

With these health benefits, would you still ignore taro? If I were you, I would have a bounty supply of taro at home. But, take note of its shelf life too.

The Downsides Of Taro

However, you can’t really have all the positives as there are also risks or disadvantages regarding this root vegetable. Again, aside from the fact that the raw taro is toxic, there could be other drawbacks to be considered.

Taro has a high amount of calories that might be an issue if you are into losing weight. It also has more carbs that could lead to obesity.

Also, if you overeat taro, it might cause gout or kidney stones because of the calcium oxalate content. As for reducing oxalates, you need to steep the taro in the water overnight before you cook them the next day.

You might as well restrict the absorption of this oxalate through eating taro along with milk or other foods rich in calcium.

And finally, the furry skin of taro could also irritate your skin. To prevent the said reaction, you can wear gloves or even coat your hands with cooking oil. And of course, you need to cook it thoroughly to avoid any allergic reactions.

Still, it is worth familiarizing with the effects of taro to you and your health.

Choosing And Preparing Taro

Taro is known to be available all year round, and this root vegetable could be found in most grocery stores. The size might depend on the way how you want to cook the taro. Once you plan to boil them, then look for smaller taro roots since they are moist.

But, most people prefer those larger ones since they could be cooked in different ways and they could also feed many people. The firm and heavy taros are the best large ones.

If the taro is fresh, it has a slightly moist skin. You need to avoid buying the soft and dry patches. There is a need for them to be free from cracks and molds. You could store the taro in the paper bag and at a room temperature.

And to prepare taro, you need to wash them thoroughly, then scrub, and peel the skin with the use of vegetable peeler or even a paring knife. But for smaller taros, just leave the skin on. And be sure to cut the taro into similar sizes to cook them at the same rate. Here’s a guide on how to cook taro.

Final Thoughts

Isn’t it great that apart from answering your question "what does taro taste like", you are also provided with helpful information that you might need as you buy a taro from now on. I hope I have helped you discovering the taste of taro. And of course, if you want to take the taste of taro to another level, why not try making a Taro Bubble Tea? I’m sure you will love it!

Just please leave your comments below for any questions or suggestions. Happy reading!