Bamboo flakes and powder developed by Kfri team. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
There is a crispy revolution rich in nutrients and is rooted deep in keral forests. The Institute for Forest Research in Kerala (Kfri) has developed flakes and powder based on bamboo shoots, which could bring one of the most overlooked superfood nature to kitchen shelves across the country.
Bamboo shoots, long respected in the kitchen of northeastern India and Southeast Asia, will now get a new form for South India, thanks to the team’s efforts led by R. Jayaraj, the main scientist in Kfri. “The aim is not only nutritional innovations, but also creating products with added value that are sustainable and friendly to agriculture,” says Dr. Jayaraj.
The products are made of fine bamboo shoots (locally called the mulan coomb), which are harvested, processed to remove moisture, and then converted to flakes and powder without losing the natural nutrition profile. These bamboo products rich in vitamins, proteins, minerals and low fat content promote digestion and help regulate body weight, according to scientists.
High content of fiber
With their delicate taste and texture, bamboo flakes and powder can be mixed with bakery objects such as biscuits, breads and healthy snacks. What’s more, the high fiber content and nutritional properties make it an excellent diet for consumers with knowledge of health.
But despite their promise, these products are still in their early stages of penetration on the market. The lack of public awareness of the nutritional properties of the product is a challenge. Scientists also face obstacles in the source of raw materials and a shortage of commercial partners to move it forward.
However, the potential of rural impact is huge. Commercialization of bamboo -based food products could open new revenue flows for bamboo cultivators, especially in tribal and forest adjacent communities. Kfri believes that this innovation could also increase bamboo cultivation in Kerala.
In Conclave
As part of its pressure on the scale of this initiative, KFRI will present these bamboo products in the upcoming research and development conclave organized by the State Council of Kereral for Science, Technology and Environment 7. August in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a world that turns to nature for answers to modern health problems, bamboo can soon move from the forest floor to the dining table and announces greener and healthier tomorrow.
Published – 1 August 2025 20:42
