also: たけとう
Chinese sugarcane; Saccharum sinense
A type of sugarcane traditionally used in Japan for making wasanbon sugar. The reading ちくとう is standard; たけとう is a less common alternate reading.
See also: 和三盆 (わさんぼん)
Chinese sugarcane is known as the raw material for wasanbon.
Standard kanji spelling for this plant name.
Alternate reading; less common than ちくとう.
The name 竹糖 literally means 'bamboo sugar', likely referring to the plant's bamboo-like appearance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.