The early spring season is when sugarcane becomes available in many places. Attentive readers will notice that not all sugarcane in the market is of the same variety. So, what is the difference between green sugarcane and black sugarcane? Is it suitable for everyone to eat? And how should we choose the right sugarcane for ourselves based on our body constitution?
Sugarcane also has two little-known effects:
The first is for external application to treat sores and skin ailments. For instance, the "Dian Nan Ben Cao" (Materia Medica of Yunnan) records that sugarcane "can be applied topically after being pounded to a pulp to treat all kinds of poisons, sores, carbuncles, and back abscesses."
The second is detoxification. The "Dian Nan Ben Cao Tu Shuo" (Illustrated Materia Medica of Yunnan) states that "taken with ginger juice, it can detoxify pufferfish poison."
What is the difference between green and black sugarcane?
There are two types of bamboo sugarcane. The one with a deep, nearly black skin, commonly known as black-skinned sugarcane, is relatively mild and nourishing, and is not suitable for those with a sore throat or excessive internal heat. The green-skinned sugarcane is sweet in taste and cool in nature, with a heat-clearing effect that can relieve lung and stomach heat. If you plan to eat it directly, it is recommended to choose the black one, as it has a better texture. If you are planning to juice it, the green one is recommended as it is more refreshing.
When is the best time to eat sugarcane?
Of course, winter is the best time to eat sugarcane. Consuming it two hours before lunch can help reduce deficiency fire, strengthen the spleen, relieve morning fatigue, and promote good digestion and absorption for the midday meal.
1. Eating sugarcane mainly involves chewing the sugar from its stalk, so the accumulation of sugar is very important. Sugarcane is a winter fruit, generally harvested around October and can be eaten until March or April of the following year.
2. With the advancement of modern technology, sugarcane can now be eaten year-round. Greenhouse technology is now advanced enough to control the temperature and humidity for plant growth. Furthermore, the deep processing of food is continuously developing, and sugarcane is made into a variety of processed foods. Advanced packaging and logistics mean that people can get sugarcane whenever they want, so crops no longer have a so-called "seasonal" nature.
Is sugarcane suitable for everyone?
It is generally suitable for the general population, but those with a weak spleen and stomach or abdominal pain from cold should avoid it. Sugarcane is a highly regarded food remedy for its clearing, moistening, and cooling-nourishing properties. It has been widely praised since ancient times, even by elegant and refined scholars. The Tang dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote in his "Poem on Cherries": "You need not worry about internal heat from your food, for the official's office also has cool sugarcane juice." The great medical scientist Li Shizhen had his own unique perspective on sugarcane, saying: "While drinking sugarcane juice is certainly good, it is not as enjoyable as the lasting taste of chewing it," perfectly expressing the subtlety of eating sugarcane.
How to select sugarcane
When selecting sugarcane, one should follow the principle of "touch, look, and smell." Touch is to check the firmness of the sugarcane; look is to see if the flesh is fresh (fresh sugarcane is firm, with a milky-white flesh and a fresh fragrance); and smell is to check for any unusual odors. Moldy sugarcane is softer, its flesh is slightly darker with a light brown color, and it may have no smell or a faint wine-like smell.
Specifically, you can do the following:
1. Look: Sugarcane that is of medium thickness, has few joints, and is relatively uniform is often sweeter. Avoid those that are too thick or too thin.
2. The root is sweeter than the top. As sugarcane grows, it consumes nutrients, and excess nutrients are stored in the root. Additionally, during photosynthesis, water is evaporated, and most of the water is concentrated around the leaves at the top, making the sugar content there less concentrated. The root has a higher sugar concentration.
3. Generally, choose purple-skinned sugarcane with a glossy sheen and a white bloom. The darker the color, the better, because the older the sugarcane, the darker and sweeter it becomes.
4. Choose straight sugarcane. Curved sugarcane may have been blown over, resulting in a poor texture and possibly insect damage.