Polynesian arrowroot

Pia ma'a (FP)

The Pia is a plant where the hollow stem can exceed 1.2m in height when erect. It has one or two leaves and an underground tubercule from which the roots grow. Tubers of this plant are used to make starch. This starch can be used in traditional medicine or in cosmetics, for example the monoi "horahora" made in the Tuamotu Archipelago. It is also edible and Polynesian people used the starch to make a variety of "poe", a delicious sweet pudding, very rich and energising. Nowadays the "poe" is cooked with cassava starch. The starch was also used in the production of “tapa” (or bark cloth) as a glue. The sweet fruits of this plant are also eaten by children like candy.