Tender Bamboo Shoots Vanishing from Coorg Kitchens as Forests Give Way to Estates
- Kodagu Express Bureau
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
Madikeri: In the hills of Kodagu, also known as Coorg, the arrival of monsoon has always been synonymous with a cherished culinary tradition: tender bamboo shoots fry, typically served with akki roti (rice flatbread). However, this seasonal delicacy is now becoming a rarity in Kodagu homes, with residents alarmed over the declining availability of wild bamboo shoots in the region.
Locals say that earlier, it was common for families to venture into forested areas to identify and harvest edible bamboo shoots during the rains. But over the years, experienced foragers have become few, and much of the traditional knowledge is fading.
"Most of the forest patches where bamboo once grew abundantly have been converted into coffee estates or repurposed for construction and tourism," said Rathna Poovamma, a resident of Napoklu. "Now we only get bamboo shoots during the weekly santhe (market) days, and they don’t taste the same. The ones that grew naturally near the Cauvery were more tender and flavourful."
The loss of green cover in Karnataka’s Malnad belt has directly impacted not only biodiversity but also local food culture. The reduced availability of wild-grown bamboo shoots has forced many to rely on commercially harvested ones, which, residents claim, lack the traditional flavour.
The dish, often made with garlic, red chillies, mustard seeds, and curry leaves, has long been part of the monsoon menu in Kodagu households. But today, younger generations are missing out on this once-ubiquitous taste of the rains.
"It’s not just food. It’s a part of our identity, our connection to the land," Poovamma added. "If we lose these traditions, we lose a part of who we are."
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