Longchuan Giant Taro

Longchuan Giant Taro

　　During the Longchuan era, there was one thing that gained great fame—the “Longchuan Giant Taro.” Not only did nearly all historical texts mentioning Longchuan make special note of this large taro, but it was also deliberately ranked alongside rare creatures such as peacocks and elephants, giving it quite a prestigious status.

　　 Familiarity breeds indifference, and what seems extraordinary to outsiders may be ordinary to locals. The Longchuan Giant Taro, which amazed scholars from the Central Plains, was considered insignificant by the local people—a true reflection of the saying, “You can’t see the true face of Mount Lu because you’re within the mountain.” The Longchuan Giant Taro is the “giant” of the taro family. The Jingpo people call it “Nai Po,” where “Nai” means taro and “Po” refers to the mountainside. Beside the dry farmland and in corners of gardens, the Jingpo people often grow these massive taros with leaves as big as umbrellas, some growing up to “three chi long and three cun wide.” Some are grown in the valleys as well, but their taste isn't as good as those grown in the mountains—and they can even have a slightly numbing effect on the tongue.

　　 　　The Longchuan Giant Taro is a high-starch plant, suitable both as a vegetable and as a staple food. When roasted or cooked, it is not only sweet and delicious but also becomes so soft and sticky it can cling to your teeth. Ancient medical texts claimed that “eating too much of it can make one obese,” and if consumed excessively, it might leave one feeling “full for a long time and without an appetite.” However, there is one minor inconvenience when eating this “Nai Po” giant taro: when peeling raw taro, it's best not to let the raw juice touch your skin, as it can cause numbness—but roasting the juice can resolve this issue. It needs to be boiled in boiling water, and no extra water should be added during the process. Otherwise, the taro soup—which can make even bitter greens taste sweet—can become unpleasant, causing itchiness in your mouth and throat.

　　 The size of the Longchuan Giant Taro goes far beyond what ancient records describe as “one chi and three cun long.” Taro roots two or three chi long can be commonly found.

　　 　　Some say these wildly grown, oversized taros were introduced from areas now in Myanmar, such as Leilong and Gonglian. But during the Ming and Qing dynasties, these lands were, in principle, under the jurisdiction of the Longchuan Pacification Commission, so ultimately, they are still Longchuan Giant Taro.