TARO PRODUCTS OF AOTEAROA
Many different packaged and processed food products can be made from taro corms and leaves (see products disclaimer & information request).
Fresh leaves These are mostly grown in glasshouses in South Auckland and can be seen as far south - at least - as Christchurch.
Tropic Bird South Pacific Ltd is an Auckland company offering "Gourmet Pacific Cuisine" including tasty egg-, soya- and wheat-free taro patties. These vegetarian-friendly frozen patties are ready to cook and are suitable for home use and restaurants. For product details and availability, contact Peter Anderson by email (tropicbirdnz-at-hotmail.com)(use @ for -at-), or fax 09 267-4562 (PJM 30.9.03).
INTERNATIONAL TARO PRODUCTS
Fried taro chips Manufactured by Manora Food Industry Co., Ltd.; Head Office 82/5-8 Charansnidwong Rd, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. Ingredients: tapioca, fresh taro, palm oil, wheat flour, salt; no colour and no preservative added, "for better taste, take with chilly or tomato sauce" (packet found in Auckland; why not try with an avocado dip?!) (PJM 30.12.04).
Taro bun Recently seen in a Seven-Eleven convenience store - in downtown Bangkok: a taro bun, made with sickly-sweet taro paste baked inside an exceedingly soft, yeasty white bun. The paste was very stongly purple coloured, so I suspect purple food colouring was added (PJM 23.11.03)
Taro sticks A fried snack food; taro 70%, palm oil 25%, seasoning (no description) 5%, "no cholesterol". Manufactured by Chiantavee Co. Ltd, 45/14-15 Tesaban5 Rd, Vrangkrajae, Muang, Trad, Thailand. Email chiantavee@shoppingthai.com (fax 66 2728-0593 (PJM 23.11.03).