Lūʻau (food)

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/l-au-food

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the botanical basis?Derived from the leaves and stems of the taro plant (Colocasia esculenta)
2. What is the core preparation?Steaming or baking of taro leaves, often enhanced with coconut milk
3. What is lūʻau and what ingredients are used?Lūʻau is a Polynesian dish made mainly from taro leaves and stems. It is often cooked with coconut milk and sometimes with fish, pork, or chicken.
4. How is lūʻau usually cooked?It is usually steamed or baked, wrapped in banana or ti leaves to keep it moist and add flavor.

Colocasia esculenta: The scientific name for the taro plant, a staple crop in many tropical regions.
Polynesian Triangle: The vast geographical area in the Pacific Ocean encompassing Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island.
Corm: The swollen underground plant stem that stores nutrients, like the root part of a taro plant.