BAMBOO: AN ALL-ROUNDER THAT FEEDS AND HEALS

On World Bamboo Day today, here’s a shout-out to the fast-growing, low-waste hero that boosts wellness, beauty and diet trends

- Navya Sharma

Bamboo might look like just another green stalk, but zoom out and it’s a whole lifestyle.

From crunchy shoots on your plate to charcoal in your water filter, this climate-smart grass has been a staple across Asia and is now having a global moment. World Bamboo Day (September 18), first celebrated in 2009 by the US-based International Bamboo Organization, highlights its versatile glow-up effects.

EATING YOUR SHOOTS

Crisp, tender, and low-cal, bamboo shoots bring fibre, vitamins and minerals. Across India’s Northeast, they're everyday icons: Assam’s khorisa tenga and pickles, Manipur's ewa thot stir-fries and fish curries, Meghalaya’s stews and chutneys, Nagaland’s fermented bamboo with akhuni, and Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh’s soups, pickles, and meat dishes.