Want Revenge On the Bamboo Patch Out Back? You Could Eat It...

Some people's back yards are like jungles.

When I was a kid, our whole world revolved around bamboo patches. We made secret forts in it, we made tunnels through it, and in general it was our quick solution to some kind of cover. If you wanted some low-grade invisibility from your parents, that big patch of bamboo was the ticket every time.

Although to be fair, as I've learned, it's not bamboo at all. It's actually called Japanese Knotweed, according to the BDN. But we all know it as that angry patch of madness that's almost impossible to get rid of. Or you'll see huge stretches of it along the roadsides. It's literally everywhere.

Revenge can be a dish best served... hot or cold.

Maybe it's kind of a dark way to look at things, but if we're talking pure revenge, there's something delightfully horror movie-esque about the idea of harvesting your enemy, and then eating it. It might seem a little over the top, but if I'm truly eliminating my enemies, why not go all the way?

Folks who enjoy eating Japanese Knotweed describe the flavor as bittersweet, or even on the citrusy side. Some even call it "poor man's rhubarb". Folks often put it in fruit tarts or even salads for some extra zing. The roots even allegedly have some health benefits, although those haven't been evaluated by the FDA.

The roots may even help fight Lyme Disease.

the roots contain high levels of reservatrol, which some believe can help fight the symptoms of Lyme Disease. But medical professionals have pointed out, you can easily purchase reservatrol inexpensively, in ready-to-use dosages, as opposed to sort of guessing how your dosage from wild plants.

Also, if you are harvesting, don't be quick to grab what's on the side of the road. It's ll be covered in road salt and exhaust. And also be aware of getting it from areas that could be near septic fields or runoff, and from pesticides as well. you want the cleanest patch you can find.

It certainly sounds weird to eat bamboo, but here's a few tips right here, for proper harvesting and prep of the knotweed to get you going. Once you have the basics down, the sky's the limit from there. Enjoy, and if it doesn't suck, let me know. Hahahaha.