Harvesting and Cooking Cattail Shoots

How to cook cattail (Typha latifolia). The shoots are pretty tasty raw (they taste like cucumbers), but are probably covered with giardia and such, so cooking is highly recommended. Plus, with a bit of flavouring, it's taste can be much improved.

The inner part of the shoot can still be eaten as the cattail gets older, but the younger ones have more tasty stuff and less tough stuff. I thought I could get the stringier stuff by frying it to crispiness, but alas, that just makes it tougher. The best way is going to put it in a wet stir fry. It absorbed flavour very well.

Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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Please watch: "Botanical Delights at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens" for some fascinating stuff on edible plants, Mexican history, and other very cool nature nerd facts.
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[smetlogik]

Man, your ability to eat from the wild is impressive. You actually make it look tasty. I see a restaurant in your future. 🍽

[InspiredJJ]

Great video! My wife is vegetarian 🌱 so, good to know!

[RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

That's one thing I didn’t do this year. Our spring came in so fast I missed the young chutes.
Great video 👍

[sandywieringa]

When you're harvesting cattails, watch out for leeches. I have come across more than a few of those little vampires hiding between the layers of the stems, or on the outside. I don't know about you, but I don't want to become lunch for something else while I'm trying to get lunch for myself! Other than that, I love cattails!

[BackpackerDiaries]

I didn't know cattail was edible. Nice touch with the jazzy vibes music! Hope your move goes smoothly.

[nwprimate]

Good stuff Carley! I've wanted to try this for a while, but have never gotten around to it. I'm going to have to keep my eye out for some clean water and give them a shot. Good cooking tips too! 🙂 👍

[LifewithKenandJane]

Life with ken and Jane. The oldest old man in da woods

[rialobran]

I reckon par boiling them first may have made them less stringy, just a guess. I like the sesame seed idea, I always forget about sesame seeds when cooking. Also Clay and Shakespeare, I didn't see that coming!

[blackriverrambler]

I only had one cattails shoot meal this year. And missed out on the spikes. My favourite wild edible.
Oh yea I’m binge watching your vids. It’s been a while!
See you on the next one!

[filmingfamily]

Interesting, tester Clay didn't seem too excited :) But we like veggies a lot and we might try something new. thanks for the video, Carley.

[bushcraftnorthof]

Apparently, roasting whole roots on the fire and then peeling the outside, is supposed to reveal a delicious inside. Good source of carbs. Take care!

[HappyTrailsHiking]

Cattails...What do they taste like? Other than pond water...
Do as I say...LOL! Thanks for adding flavoring!!! Kurt lives in PA!

[KurtZitzelman]

Haha... I'm being stalked! Glad you got the sticker. Never tried eating cattails, I'll have to try it. I can't answer the question of the week.... It wouldn't be fair lol

[JaxxDrinkwater]

I've always wanted to try cattails. As always thanks for taking one for the team!

[vickyvango]

I am just learning about wild edibles and I can not wait to get my hands on some cattails! Thanks for the intro to the other channels!

[sosteve]

Great taste test, this is what you not can learn from books, I guess I cut it in small pieces and put it with some rise as a meal
Ps. Was it Kurt Z.

[lifebefellthepowells]

I think my kids would love to give this a try. Keep up the great vids.

[TheGrayManOG]

Your channel is awesome! I've learned a few things from watching. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[BushCraftBums]

Great Video! You have to love the versatility of cattail! and tasty! Thanks for posting!
Regards
BCB

[HappilyEverOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing! I had heard about eating cattails this way a while back, but I've yet to try it for myself. As you said, you've got to get them from somewhere with a low risk of polluted waters. This would also be a great option in an emergency, especially if you live in a region with a lot of moisture & wetlands.