Bamboo Biryani tickles the taste buds of tourists in ASR district

Experience the unique taste of Bamboo Biryani in ASR district, Andhra Pradesh, a new delicacy gaining popularity among tourists.

`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.

‘’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.