Lotus Leaves or Bamboo Leaves

Dried leaves used as wrappings for various steamed preparations. Lotus leaves impart a distinctive, somewhat sweet taste and aroma to the food they are wrapped around, and they are preferred to bamboo leaves. However, lotus leaves are usually sold commercially only to restaurants in 50-pound boxes. Bamboo leaves can be easily bought in smaller quantities and are admirable substitutes, but they have a very different taste and smell. Kept in a plastic bag in a dry place the dried leaves will keep for 6 months to a year.