Eating bamboo

It's a grass, all right, but one that has grown to occupy a special - if not surprising - place in Chinese gastronomy.

The mighty bamboo starts small. And if you catch them as they just emerge, bamboo shoots are tender, juicy and full of flavor.

Bamboo grows all over China and - despite its height - is actually a grass. It is quick-growing and covers large tracts of land all over southern and southwestern China.