Spring is a delicious season for wild vegetables, and bamboo shoots harvested from the mountains are also in season from March to April.
When seasonal ingredients appear on the dining table, it’s nice to feel spring through taste as well.
In Mabi, where bamboo is a specialty, a bamboo shoot digging experience will be held on April 28 (Sunday), which coincides with the peak season for bamboo shoots.
Upon checking the details of the event, it seems that not only will participants dig for bamboo shoots, but they will also be able to taste freshly harvested bamboo shoots on site. It sounds like an event where one can experience the charm of Mabi's bamboo shoots.
I heard that the event is organized by the local revitalization cooperation team active in Mabi, so I went to cover it.
Mabi's Bamboo Shoot Digging Experience
Mabi's bamboo shoot digging experience is a hands-on event taking place on April 28, 2024 (Sunday).
The organizer is Yoshida Masahiro, who is active as a local revitalization cooperation team member in Mabi. This will be the second time the event is held in 2024.
The Kurashiki City Mabi Green Association is also co-hosting, and participants will be able to dig for bamboo shoots while receiving direct lectures from local experts in bamboo.
The participation fee is 1,000 yen, which includes tea and rice balls, as well as insurance costs. If you wish to take bamboo shoots home as a souvenir, you can get up to 5 kg for an additional 1,000 yen.
Please check the image below for more details.
It may seem difficult to dig sturdy bamboo shoots, but once you grasp the technique, anyone can easily dig them. At the last event, both children and adults were able to harvest a large number of bamboo shoots.
On the day of the event, not only will participants dig for bamboo shoots, but they will also be able to eat freshly harvested bamboo shoots on site. Knowing the deliciousness will likely make the bamboo shoot digging even more enjoyable.
Advance registration is required, so those wishing to participate should apply through this Google Form.
The bamboo shoot digging event, which was well-received last time, was discussed with Yoshida Masahiro from the Kurashiki City Local Revitalization Cooperation Team.
Interview with Yoshida Masahiro
What is the aim of the event you planned?
Yoshida (no honorifics)
What I want to convey through the event is the charm of bamboo shoots, a specialty of Mabi.
I hope that those who have not had much exposure to Mabi's bamboo shoots will actually dig for them and be moved by their taste.
Additionally, bamboo shoot digging is not only fun but also an activity for environmental conservation.
Bamboo shoots grow quickly, so if they are not harvested, they will soon turn into bamboo. When bamboo grows rapidly, it becomes difficult to manage, ultimately leading to neglected bamboo forests.
The best way to prevent this is to dig them while they are still bamboo shoots. This way, it is easy to dig them, and they can be deliciously consumed, so bamboo shoot digging is also an enjoyable activity for environmental conservation.
How did the bamboo shoot digging event come about?
Yoshida
When I thought about "promoting the charm of Mabi" as a local revitalization cooperation team member, I first came up with the idea of a hands-on workshop utilizing the local specialty of bamboo.
However, to be honest, I didn't know how to do it. At that time, I didn't even know how to dig bamboo shoots, nor had I eaten them.
At that time, I was approached by the president of TEORI, a company that manufactures bamboo furniture and interiors in Mabi, who said, "Let's promote Mabi's charm together!" This led to the planning of the bamboo shoot digging event, which coincided with the peak season.
Although bamboo shoot digging events had been held several times in Mabi before, this was the first time it was organized by the local revitalization cooperation team.
What was the feedback from the last event?
Yoshida
It was very well received.
Since most participants were digging bamboo shoots for the first time, many expressed their joy by saying, "It was fun!". Also, after tasting the freshly harvested bamboo shoots, everyone unanimously said "Delicious, delicious."
Some even said, "Please contact me next year as I will come again."
What are the characteristics of Mabi's bamboo shoots?
Yoshida
Typically, bamboo shoots have a bitterness, so it is necessary to remove the bitterness using rice bran, but Mabi's bamboo shoots have very little bitterness, so they require almost no preparation.
You can simply put the bamboo shoots in a pot filled with water, bring it to a boil, turn off the heat, and let it sit overnight, and the next day they are ready to eat.
Bamboo shoots that can be prepared just by boiling in water are quite rare nationwide, and people are often surprised when I say "no rice bran is needed."
Additionally, Mabi's bamboo shoots are sweet, and they are pale in color and beautiful. Eating the tips of the bamboo shoots simply with wasabi soy sauce is very delicious.
Please send a message to the readers.
Yoshida
I want people to know the deliciousness of Mabi's bamboo shoots, so I would love for those who are not familiar with Mabi's bamboo shoots or have never eaten them to participate.
I think there aren't many people around who say, "I love bamboo shoots," but Mabi's bamboo shoots are so shockingly delicious that it will change that perception. I can no longer eat other bamboo shoots.
Sashimi, tempura, grilled over charcoal... I recommend them in any preparation.
I hope everyone can experience this amazing deliciousness.
Conclusion
Listening to Yoshida's story, I was surprised to learn that bamboo shoot digging is not only fun but also contributes to environmental conservation.
If I can help maintain bamboo forests while having fun, I would be even more enthusiastic about bamboo shoot digging.
Bamboo shoots grow at an astonishing speed and can turn into bamboo in just a few days, so the opportunity to experience bamboo shoot digging is limited to a short season. It is a rare event where you can eat seasonal bamboo shoots.
If you want to enjoy and taste Mabi's bamboo shoots, please consider participating.
Data on Mabi's Bamboo Shoot Digging Experience
| Name | Mabi's Bamboo Shoot Digging Experience |
|---|---|
| Date | April 28, 2024 (Sunday) From 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Registration from 8:30 AM to 8:35 AM) |
| Location | Meeting place: Kurashiki City Mabi Branch Parking Lot |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 1,000 yen per person Souvenir (per household) 1,000 yen *Up to 5 kg of bamboo shoots for souvenirs |
