Vegetables · FFET10439
Water bamboo shoot (jiaobai)
Jiaobai is the swollen, tender stem of wild rice, stir-fried with pork or chicken or grilled.
CanonVegetablesJiaobai is the swollen, tender stem of an aquatic wild rice plant, formed through the action of a smut fungus and eaten as a vegetable. Reports describe its cultivation in Huangyan and Jinyun in Zhejiang and Zhenlai in Jilin. It can be stir-fried with pork or chicken, or cut into thick pieces and grilled with soy sauce and vinegar.
What
Jiaobai is the swollen, tender stem of an aquatic wild rice plant, eaten as a vegetable. The swelling results from the action of a smut fungus. Older descriptions also call it gusun, jiaosun or gucai.4,6
When
An older description records white shoots appearing in late spring. Huangyan grows two crops a year: an August 2026 report describes that year's summer harvest as finished by the end of July, followed by planting for the autumn crop.1,4
Where
Reported growing areas include Huangyan in Taizhou and Jinyun in Lishui, both in Zhejiang, as well as Zhenlai in Jilin. The Huangyan account describes two crops a year, while the Jinyun account describes raising ducks alongside jiaobai.1,2,3
How
Jiaobai grows in flooded fields, and in Jinyun ducks are raised in the same fields. Older culinary descriptions include stir-frying it with pork or chicken, or grilling thick pieces with soy sauce and vinegar.1,2,4,5
Why
Its distinctive edible stem develops through swelling caused by a smut fungus, and affected plants rarely flower. Older descriptions call it sweet; the Huangyan report also describes the locally grown Zhejiao No. 8 variety as crisp and sweet.1,4,6
Impact and influence
An August 2026 report records about 20,000 mu of jiaobai cultivation in Huangyan and annual production exceeding 30,000 metric tons, with more than 90 percent sold to over 20 provinces and cities. A June 2024 report records about 66,000 mu and production of about 130,000 metric tons in Jinyun. These figures describe production in the respective local areas. Huangyan jiaobai is reported to hold a national geographical indication certification trademark from 2024, and the Jinyun jiaobai-and-duck farming system to be listed as a China Important Agricultural Heritage System.1,2