Ma bamboo shoot is also called sweet bamboo or big leaf black bamboo (da-ye-wu-zhu), the biggest variety of edible bamboo shoot in Taiwan, and it also has the highest yield among the varieties. It has an exceptionally high growth rate and can grow “half a foot in a day” as described by the farmers. Ma bamboo shoot has a slightly rough surface and light yellowish-green color. Though the fibers are comparably rougher, it maintains the sweetness of bamboo shoots, and is often made into dried bamboo shoot, pickled bamboo shoot and sour bamboo shoots.
Jiasian,Liouguei and Namasia is a very important Ma bamboo shoot cultivation area in Taiwan. The shoots are mostly planted on the hills and the harvest season is around July to September. The Ma bamboo shoots are high in protein and contain vitamins A, B1, B2 and minerals. They are also low in calories.