The bamboo used for the dish is scientifically known as Bambusa polymorpha (Burmese bamboo), which is widely available in Odisha, say forest officials.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
`Bamboo Biryani’ is gaining popularity in the tribal areas of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district. For tourists from across the country who have been familiar with the Bamboo Chicken here, the new delicacy has been added to the menu to tickle their taste buds at various tourist spots including the Borra Caves and the lush mountain valleys of Araku, Ananthagiri and Dumbriguda.
“My trip to Araku was never complete without tasting the Bamboo Chicken earlier. But now I have added this Bamboo Biryani. It is very tasty. I did not get it in the hotel where I stayed, but I found it in roadside eateries,” says a tourist Sabita Guha.
Ramesh Musiri, the tribal chef at the Bamboo Biryani point at Borra Caves, says the item has been in great demand in the ongoing tourist season. According to him, 300 grams of basmati rice goes into making a full plate of the biryani. Chicken Bamboo Biryani is priced at ₹600 and Vegetable Bamboo Biryani ₹450.
“Since it takes at least an hour to prepare the biryani, the customer has to place the order at least an hour in advance. We use traditional spices in the preparation,” says Mr. Ramesh.
Odisha bamboo
‘’Bamboo from neighbouring Odisha is used as it goes well with the dishes. They buy each stick of bamboo for ₹600, which can be used to make 10-12 biryanis,’‘ he adds.
Andhra Pradesh Forest Range Officer at Araku P. Srinivasa Rao says that the bamboo used for these dishes is scientifically known as Bambusa polymorpha (Burmese bamboo), which is widely available in Odisha. However, the bamboo found in ASR district is Bambusa arundinacea, which is more suitable for handicrafts and to build houses.
The Bamboo Biryani, however, is not on the menu list of tourist resorts and hotels in the region.
“We tried this Bamboo Biryani once in our resort, but tourists did not pay much attention. So, we left it. Moreover, it takes more patience and time to prepare the dish,” say staff at a Tourism Department hotel in the district.
Guidelines
A tourist from Visakhapatnam, requesting anonymity, says it is good to know that Bamboo Biryani is gaining popularity in ASR district, thereby gaining national attention for the Andhra Pradesh’s dish, but proper guidance and guidelines should be put in place for the tribal people who earn their livelihood by selling the food items.
“If anything happens (like food poisoning) to a tourist by eating the food, the government will have to take the blame. The authorities concerned should immediately give proper training to the tribal people to make and sell food in a hygienic manner. They should closely monitor the ingredients used and conduct frequent quality checks,’‘ opines the tourist.
“Yes, we should keep a watch on the Bamboo Chicken and Bamboo Biryani points within our limits. We will hold a meeting with the tribal people and provide instructions and training to those engaged in making the food items,” says Integrated Tribal Development Agency Project Officer V. Abhishek., speaking to The Hindu.
Published – January 11, 2025 09:18 pm IST