Inbox tidbits: Japanese angelica tree shoots are delicious.

Steve wrote a year or two ago:
"Here in Japan this plant (Aralia elata, Japanese angelica tree) is prized as a food. In the spring time the budding shoots, about the size of a large thumb, are plucked from the end of the stems and cooked in a light tempura batter. Very delicious and healthy too."

The plant has vicious spines on the full-grown leaves and stems.