Anyone Care for a Water Sausage?

Anyone Care for a Water Sausage?

Also known as the Cattail (Typhia spp.), who doesn’t remember these plants from childhood? Although there are many fun things to do with Cattails as a child, did you know they are also edible? 

The starchy roots are actually pretty nutritious, and have a protein content similar to rice. The roots are rhizomes, so they form thick fleshy mats of roots that can be harvested and further processed for consumption. Normally, once the roots are harvested the starchy part is beaten away from the fibers, or they can also be treated like potatoes and either boiled, steamed, fried or mashed and eaten with butter. Additionally, the young shoots can be harvested and the inner heart can be enjoyed like asparagus. The young leaf bases can also be eaten raw or cooked. The pollen from the flowers can even be collected and made into a flour. However, be careful of eating Cattails that have been growing in polluted water, as they can accumulate toxins like heavy metals and pesticides!

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