Arhat Bamboo Shoots

Arhat Bamboo Shoots

　　   Arhat bamboo (Qiong bamboo) is a premium variety of bamboo, unique to Leibo County in Sichuan Province. Arhat bamboo shoots are mainly produced in the water systems of Mamize, a provincial nature reserve and the southernmost habitat of giant pandas in the world, as well as Ma Lake, the third-largest alpine deep-water lake in China and a provincial scenic area. The cultivation area covers 165,000 mu, with an annual output of about 10,000 tons. It is a natural, green, and rare food product.

Arhat bamboo shoots have thick flesh walls and small hollows, making them tender, delicious, fragrant, and crisp. They are rich in protein, vitamins, sugars, calcium, and vitamins B1, B2, and C, offering considerable nutritional value and are hailed as the “bamboo shoot version of bear’s paw.” With low fat, low sugar, and high fiber content, they help promote intestinal movement, aid digestion, reduce excess body fat, eliminate phlegm, and resolve stagnation. Regular consumption is believed to support weight loss and fitness, prolong life, aid digestion, strengthen the spleen, clear heat, and benefit the gallbladder. They can also help treat hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia, earning them the title of “king of vegetarian foods.”

Among Arhat bamboo shoots, those from Xiaoshan Chun are especially renowned.