Vegetable caterpillar
30 Aug, 2007
Industrial Research Limited (IRL) chemist Stephen Tauwhare discusses the possible health benefits of the vegetable caterpillar, or awheto.
Listen to audio: Vegetable caterpillar
Duration: 12'56"
A humble fungus found on the forest floor could become the source of high-value bioactive ingredients. Known as vegetable caterpillar, or awheto, the fungus has been used traditionally by Maori for food, medicine and to produce tattoo ink. Stephen Tauwhare, a natural products chemist at IRL, is analysing awheto for compounds associated with health benefits.
Programme details: Our Changing World
