Fresh bamboo has a crisp, sweet flavor.
It is used in Oriental cooking as an extender because it will take on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with. A bamboo shoot has about the same nutritional value as an onion and is a good source of fiber. Most of the bamboo in the U.S. is canned although some fresh bamboo is beginning to reach the public. Gourmets report that once a person has tasted fresh bamboo it is difficult to switch back to canned even though fresh is much more expensive. It is considerably more expensive on the East Coast.