Red Sprout Taro

Red Sprout Taro

　　　Red Sprout Taro, also known as Red-Eyed Taro, is commonly called Ash Taro in rural areas of our county because farmers cut off the tail, dip it in wood ash, and then replant it. In Guangdong, it is referred to as Red Taro, while in Yunnan and Guizhou, it is called Hairy Green Taro. When exported to the United States, Canada, and Singapore, it is collectively known as Red Taro Sprout.

　　Red Sprout Taro is one of the local taro varieties in our county with a long planting history. However, it is mostly grown on the edges of fields, plots, and ridges. It is only in recent years that it has been cultivated on a larger scale for commercial purposes. Over the past two years, we have continuously explored and developed the advantages of this local variety based on market trends. We have also introduced local varieties from Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan through multiple channels, as well as large-scale cultivation of the sister variety of Red Sprout Taro—White Sprout Taro. The cultivation and management of these two varieties are largely similar. Their distinguishing features are: Red Sprout Taro has white-green stems and red sprouts, with oval-shaped corms; White Sprout Taro has dark purple stems and white sprouts, with flat-shaped corms, producing 3–5 more corms than Red Sprout Taro and slightly higher yield. Both varieties generally yield 1.25–1.75 tons per mu in our area, require less water and fertilizer than fragrance taro, are easy to cultivate, and their sprouts and old leaves serve as premium green fodder. This year, the planting area of Red (and White) Sprout Taro in the county reached over 4,000 mu, with a total output of more than 5,000 tons.

　　The skin of Red Sprout Taro is yellowish-brown, with pink sprout eyes (White Sprout Taro has white sprout eyes). The parent and offspring corms grow together. Planted in early March and harvested in early October, the parent corm is generally used as fodder, while the offspring corms hold commercial value. Each plant typically produces 8–15 offspring corms. These corms are oval-shaped, 6–10 cm long, weighing 50–200 grams individually, with some reaching over 500 grams. The most commercially valuable are those weighing 75–200 grams. The purchase price in our area is 1,100–1,400 yuan per ton, while the price at export stations in Guangdong is 2,200–2,600 yuan per ton. This year, 80% of the 5,000 tons of Red Sprout Taro produced in our county were shipped by sea to Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Panyu by merchants from Guangdong and Guangxi as well as local traders, serving as an important vegetable variety for export to Canada and the United States.

　　The quality characteristics of Red Sprout Taro are mainly its delicious, delicate, starchy yet non-sticky texture and pleasant taste. It is especially delightful when used in soups. It is nutritionally rich and makes for an excellent dish in home dining.