Bamboo sugarcane (thin green cane)

竹蔗

clears heatrelieves dryness清熱生津潤燥和中竹蔗茅根水為涼茶中較溫和之選，四季可飲

A thin, green-skinned variety of sugarcane sold in segments and split lengthways before boiling. It contributes a clean, grassy sweetness rather than syrupy sugar — the backbone of the mild cooler known as sugarcane and imperata root drink (竹蔗茅根水).

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung、stomach

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy bamboo sugarcane is used to clear heat, generate fluids and moisten dryness, and the sugarcane-imperata drink is counted among the gentler traditional coolers, drunk in any season.

Cautions — read first

High in sugar, so people with diabetes should take note
Those who are weak and without heat signs should not drink it daily, and too much can bring on diarrhoea
Take care if you run cold and deficient, are on your period, or are pregnant

Preparation

Wash and split into lengths.

Origin

廣東（珠三角、粵西蔗區） — Fresh or frozen segments at Australian Asian grocers

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers

Pairs well with

Imperata / lalang grass rhizome Water chestnut Carrot Asian pear / snow pear Kudzu root

Soups that use this ingredient · 1

Sugar cane, imperata (cogon grass) root, water chestnut and carrot soupNot yet surveyed (we say so honestly)

竹蔗茅根馬蹄紅蘿蔔湯

clears heatcools internal firerelieves drynessSummerAll year

街市Bamboo sugarcane (thin green cane)· 300 g百子櫃Imperata / lalang grass rhizome· 1 bunch fresh 茅根街市Water chestnut· 10街市Carrot· 2街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 2街市Pork bones (femur / blade)· 500 g

“Heaty? Then this is the pot.”