Sour Bamboo Shoots

Sour Bamboo Shoots

　　Sour bamboo shoots are tender young bamboo shoots that grow in the mountains. Harvested in early summer, they are peeled, sliced, and dried into preserved vegetables (called “Meihao” in the Derung language). Before cooking, they are soaked in hot water and often used to stir-fry meat or as a soup base, offering a delicious and refreshing flavor. The prepared sour bamboo shoots are made by chopping fresh shoots, pounding them until soft, sealing them in bamboo tubes, and covering the opening with banana leaves. These are then placed near a small stream to be dripped on for several days until fermented and turned sour. They are taken out, dried, and made into a sour bamboo shoot soup, which helps relieve heat and thirst, making it a suitable soup dish for summer.