THE GIFT OF NATURE
3/4/2018
Until recently, our only experience with bamboo was trying to keep the neighbor’s bamboo patch from invading our yard - a war we definitely didn’t win! Who knew how important this unassuming plant would someday become in our lives?
We were introduced to the Wuyi Mountain Bamboo Ocean through a chance connection with a Swiss colleague. On our first trip to China to visit this unique place, we were immediately struck by the sheer, awesome beauty – literally a tall, elegant sea of bamboo columns gently swaying in the wind. The sound was loud, melodic and captivating; It was truly a sensory nirvana to a couple of Canadian city girls like us.
We hiked breathlessly for hours through steep terrain, while our smiling 82-year-old native guide didn’t even break a sweat.
We learned of the over 1000 species of bamboo, some with gorgeous blooms. Our host had studied species from all over China and explained to us how the impact of bamboo is truly world-changing on so many levels. It gives food and refuge to humans and animals, big and small (over 250 species of birds alone!) and impacts its own ecosystem and the global environment in amazing ways. Our host explained his vision of sustainable, hand-picked harvesting to preserve the forest, where local pickers hike into the mountains on foot and set up camp. They then spend days picking the shoots and leaves, while carefully protecting the life-sustaining mother shoot. The crop is brought to nearby villages, then taken to an extraction facility. And from there, this gift of nature becomes able to be shared with all.
The journey from the Bamboo Ocean to each bottle of BANU is a long one, and a lot of love and attention goes into each bottle of BANU. Welcome to our forest ~ We’re so happy to connect nature with you!