INTERNATIONAL TARO PRODUCTS
Here are some notes on processed taro products, including some that are imported by New Zealand, and others that are made and sold in other countries. With various kinds of processing, taro can be more easily stored and traded over longer distances.
Tepung ubi keladi Taro flour (the English translation provided is 'yam flour'; this is incorrect as the product is clearly not from Dioscorea sp., the true yam; keladi is the common name for taro in Malay). 450 g refined white product in plastic bag inside cardboard packet, information external in Malay, English, and Chinese, with example recipe provided and other possible dishes named; "Suitable for home-cooking and restaurant"; packet photo shows large tropical taro corms with fibrous white flesh, "Tastee" brand made in Malaysia; distributed by G.H.S. (H.K.) Sdn. Bhd., B-F Kg. Pantai, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia [received by PJM in 2001].
Japanese Vegetables Mix Frozen peeled taro (small corms), lotus root pieces, and others, in 500g packet; sold in discount foods barn, Kyoto (11.10.03); imported and distributed by Unifoods Corporation (in Japanese). Company offers a wide range of ready-to-cook frozen vegetables.
Shanghai Good Flavour Taro Sweet made from quality taro flour, using traidtional recipe and a new technique. Sweets have the sidtinctive flavour of taro and a pure flavour. Rich nutrition good for presents and all people, from young to old. Have a nice break at home or anywhere else. Ingredients: taro flour, powdered sugar, glucose, food flavouring (cooking aroma). Produced by Shanghai Guang Hao Food Company. tel. 021 6333-06892 [approximate translation from Chinese label, example received in 2004 by PJM; best eaten fresh; a rancid oil flavour was detected after long storage at room temperature].
Sankyo Fuji Star sponge and scrubber, and small metal blade for eye/bud/blemish removal, for cleaning taro and other root crops; scrubber is like a coarse sandpaper. Tel. +81 048 (786) 3676, fax -3662 [received 2004 by PJM].