OUR GARDEN
Nestled in the lush jungles of Gabon, Mama Alene's Village is a sprawling paradise brimming with a diverse array of fruit trees, herbs, crops, roots, vines, and other edible treasures that originate from all over the world with the idea of having a forest where all these rare and delicious fruits are available within walking distance. All have been carefully selected to be non-invasive and grown with Phytosanitary certification.
Given the vast number of species, many of which are unknown to most people including here in Gabon, we've created an interactive filter you can click below, to help you explore and learn about each plant's unique properties and uses. Discover what you can eat, how it can benefit your health, and the many other practical applications of these natural wonders. Enjoy your journey through this verdant haven!
Local Name: borojó
Location: Chocó–Darién moist forests - very wet
Adult height: 12m
Spacing:
Reproduction: monoecious
Taste: Sweet yet tangy and aromatic
Medical: energy boosting and aphrodisiac fruit
Local Name: Mao Luang
Location: Native to Sri Lanka, Indochina, and the southwestern Philippines
Adult height: Up to 25 meters
Taste: Fruits are small, red to black when ripe, with a sweet flavor; commonly eaten fresh or used in juices and jams;
Medical: Leaf extracts exhibit antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, including strong α-glucosidase inhibition, suggesting potential for managing diabetes
Extra info: Thrives in wet tropical biomes.
Local Name: Breadnut
Location: Tijuca NP
Adult height: 20m
Spacing: 8
Reproduction: monoecious
Taste: The fruit is consumed when it is immature; thinly sliced pieces are boiled in soups or in coconut juice. Roasted seeds are like chestnuts. Burning the flowers is a very effective mosquito repellent, proving to be significantly more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.
Local Name: Bilimbi cucumber tree
Location: Maluku
Adult height: 10m
Taste: juicy, green, very sour and acidic.
Medical: helps digestion and regulates blood pressure. Flowers are used to make tea.
Local Name: starfruit
Species: B17, Kari, Arkin
Location: Malaysia
Adult height: 10m
Taste: apple, pear, citrus
Medical: avoid starfruit if you have kidney problems
Local Name: Belimbing Hutan
Location: Borneo
Adult height: 12m
Spacing: 8m
Taste: Sweet and sour. Baccaurea angulata fruit juice reduces atherosclerotic lesions
Local Name: Maya bread Nut Tree
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 45m
Taste: Roasted seeds have a nutty cacao like flavour that also hints towards hazel nuts. Grounding the seeds and mixing it with corn makes the best
tortillas. The orange fruit is sweet and has an agreeable flavour.
Medical: the white milk that flows when the trunk is cut, can be used on sores in the mouth (kanka sores)
Local Name: Guavira
Location: Peru-iquitos
Adult height: 10m
Taste: Pleasant aromatic sweet slightly acidic taste.
Local Name: Dabai fruit / Borneo olive
Location: Borneo
Adult height: 35m
Taste: Soaked in hot water for 10 minutes, eaten fresh. Like creamy olive
Local Name: Pili nut (milk)
Location: Romblon-Philippines-Pili-nut
Adult height: 30m
Taste: buttery, creamy slightly sweet taste, similar to macadamia. Eaten raw or roasted.
Local Name: Star apple
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 18m
Taste: apple and grape taste. Avoid the skin.
Medical: The seeds grounded in powder are used to reduce fever. The milk of the bark is very effective in expelling intestinal worms (Vermifuge). Very effective dysentery - killing parasites and bacteria in the intestines.
Local Name: Cabuya or Marmelada
Location: Paraguay
Adult height: 25m
Taste: sweet, slightly sour
Local Name: Forest Tamarillo
Location: Mocoa and Colombia cloud forests
Adult height: 8m
Taste: The fruit pulp of some trees is sweet, juicy, and pleasant-tasting and in others it is acidulous, and without any sweetness.[6] A purplish layer of soft pulp surrounds the seeds. Fruits ripen slowly, but once ripe their shelf life is longer than that of the tamarillo.
Local Name: Pindaiba or Lancewood
Location: South Brasil
Adult height: 20m
Taste: The succulent pulp has a sweet flavour of a tropical mix
Local Name: Mano de Tigre / Mão de Cabra
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 35m
Taste: The yellowish sweet-flavoured pulp is sometimes fibrous
Local Name: Lemon Drop Mangosteen, Mameyito
Location: Trinidad
Adult height: 15m
Taste: The white pulp is acid with a good flavour
Local Name: Ice Cream Bean / Inga edulis and Inga Feuilleei
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 30m
Taste: Seeds are toxic but can be eaten when cooked. fruit taste like vanilla ice cream.
Local Name: Hybrid of Plinia coronata + Plinia sp. Caipirinha
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Adult height: 12m
Taste: A succulent pulp with an acidic flavour
Local Name: Langsat / Duku
Location: Malaysia
Adult height: 15m
Taste: Juicy, aromatic and subacid
Medical: The leaf juice is used as eye-drops to dispel inflammation and the bark is poulticed on scorpion stings
Local Name: Ucuye
Location: Colombia Amazon
Adult height: 25m
Taste: The fruit is brown when ripe, the fruit has a mucilaginous liquid inside which is consumed, the flavor is sweet like honey with a nutty taste.
Local Name: quenepa
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 20m
Taste: A sweet and gelatinous pulp with a grape-like flavour. The large, starchy seeds are roasted and used as a substitute for cassava.
Medical:An tea infusion of the leaves is used to decrease or retard perspiration
Local Name: Murici
Location: Bolivia
Adult height: 8m
Taste: orange flesh delivers a flavor that is not only memorable but sweetly unforgettable.
Local Name: Puca Preto
Location: Bolivia
Adult height: 8m
Taste: The thin-skinned fruit has a succulent, sweet-tasting, pleasant, yellow pulp. The leaves have a anti poison effect on snake bites. The leaves also have been shown to have a protective effect on the gastric lining and a healing action on gastric ulcers.
Local Name: Bacuriacu monkey fruit
Location: Paraguay
Adult height: 35m
Taste: peach-apple blend. The white, pithy pulp has a pleasant odour and an agreeable, subacid flavour
Local Name:
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Adult height: 10m
Taste: A succulent, fleshy pulp with a delicious, sweet-acidic flavour.
Local Name: Abiu star apple
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 20m
Taste: sweet, milky rambutan flavor. It goes particularly well in fruit salads, especially if they contain orange slices to add acidity
Local Name: Lucuma (low glycimic index)
Location: Ecuador Andian valley
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Like baked sweet potatoes. It is by far the best alternative to stevia. Very healthy and sweet. It needs to be dried and made into a meal that can be added to wheat flour, cornmeal or starch and in making a range of drinks and desserts. Like sugar but without the nasty side effects.
Local Name: Kesusu
Location: Borneo
Adult height: 30m
Taste: Orange aril tasting of bananas.
Local Name: Chupa Chupa
Location: Ecuador rainforest
Adult height: 30m
Taste: very sweet pumpkin with overtones of mango and apricot. Some people describing it enthusiastically as like a blend of mangoes, peaches and strawberries.
Local Name: Jua
Location: Paraguay
Adult height: 10m
Taste: jackfruit & mango
Local Name: Gold Tamarillo
Location: Congo
Adult height: 4m
Taste: Tamarillo, sweet and juicy
Local Name: Golden apple / Ambarella fruit / April plum
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 20m
Taste: It is a very nutritional food containing vitamin B, C, and A. Mature leaves are also eaten as a salad green though they are tart. Has a crunchy pineapple-mango flavor.
Local Name: Hog plum
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 20m
Taste: The young leaves, which taste slightly bitter and sour, are sometimes served raw together with certain types of nam phrik (Thai chili pastes). Fruit has a sweet taste.
Local Name: Jocote
Location: Tortuguero National Park
Adult height: 10m
Taste: slightly tart. In Costa Rica it is customary to eat the ripe fruit with salt. The thin skin has a waxy appearance and is edible. The pulp is yellow when ripe and sweet. In the center of the fruit is a large pit, or stone, which is inedible. They are eaten much like a plum or mango, with the pulp eaten and the stone discarded.
Local Name: Giant Rollinia
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 10m
Taste: Soursop with less intense sweetness. The flavor of the fruit is similar to that of a lemon meringue pie. Do not eat the seeds.
Local Name: Soursop or Graviola
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 10m
Taste: With an aroma similar to pineapple, the flavor of the fruit has been described as a combination of strawberries and apple with sour citrus flavor notes, contrasting with an underlying thick creamy texture reminiscent of banana. Do not eat the seeds.
Local Name: Soncoya, Cabeza de Negro
Location: Native to Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America
Adult height: Up to 10 meters
Taste: The orange-colored pulp is aromatic, with a flavor reminiscent of mango; contains numerous seeds;
Medical: In Mexican traditional medicine, the nectar is used as a remedy for fever and chills; the bark decoction is used to treat dysentery; a tea made from the inner bark is administered for edema
Extra info: The tree produces large, round fruits with a brown, felt-textured skin covered in hook-like projections; flowers are highly fragrant; the species is deciduous, shedding leaves seasonally
Local Name: Sugar apple
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 8m
Taste: banana, pineapple, and vanilla with a grainy texture. Do not eat the seeds.
Local Name: Jackfruit
Species: Anisophyllus, Cheena, Integer
Location: Tijuca NP
Adult height: 20m
Taste: tropical sweet, mix of banana, pineapple, and mango. Seeds are edable and can be roasted.
Local Name: Wild jackfruit - Bendrong
Location: Tijuca NP
Adult height: 20m
Taste: excellent flavor, jackfruit.
Medical: leaves can be used as a painkiller if applied topically.
Local Name: Karonda, Christ's Thorn
Location: Native to India and Sri Lanka; found throughout Southeast Asia and East Africa
Adult height: 2–4 meters
Taste: Tart to sweet-tart flavor; unripe fruits are sour and often used in pickles and condiments; ripe fruits are sweeter and consumed fresh or in jams and jellies;
Medical: Rich in iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and phosphorus; traditionally used to treat acidity, indigestion, fresh and infected wounds, skin diseases, urinary disorders, and diabetic ulcers; exhibits antiscorbutic, anthelmintic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticonvulsant properties
Extra info: Drought-tolerant and suitable for arid climates; can be grown in a wide range of soils with pH 5.0–8.0; often used as a hedge plant due to its dense, thorny nature; flowers are fragrant and attract pollinators
Local Name: Nance fruit
Location: Panama
Adult height: 10m
Taste: Very high in vitamin C. Thin-skinned and peculiarly odorous, with a white, juicy, oily pulp that varies in flavour from insipid to sweet, acid or cheese-like.
Other uses:The sap from the bark and leaves is inserted into the orifice of the penis as a treatment for gonorrhoea. The leaves are used as a wash to clean and soothe ulcers. The bark is used as a mouthwash and it has been used to tighten the teeth where gums are diseased. The leaves and stem should not be eaten as it contains saponins (toxic).
Local Name: silver peanut butter fruit
Location: Gabon like
Adult height: 10m
Spacing: 5m
Taste: Peanutbutter. Do not eat the seeds.
Local Name: Peanutbutter fruit
Location: Venezuela Amazon
Adult height: 8m
Taste: Peanutbutter
Extra info: The seed or pit is poisonous
Local Name: Kaffir lime
Other types: Limequat, Mexican lime
Location: Ipoh-Malaysia
Adult height: 4m
Taste: very sour and aromatic flavor
Local Name: Giant Lemon
Other types: Meyer lemon, Indian rough lemon, Citrus Ponderosa
Location: Ipoh-Malaysia
Adult height: 5m
Taste: Deep acid lemon
Local Name: Pink Pomelo
Other types: Citrus maxima Banpeiyu, Citrus maxima Kao Phuang, Citrus maxima Thong Dee
Location: Ipoh-Malaysia
Adult height: 8m
Taste: Pomelo like grapefruit.
Local Name: Finger lime
Location: Gold-coast, Australia
Adult height: 10m
Taste: Tiny juice pearls explode in the mouth, releasing a most pleasing citrus flavor – vitamin C burst on the tongue.
Local Name: Red Ruby
Other types: Dancy Tangerine, mandarin, duncan grapefruit
Location: Wild mandarin was one of the original citrus species growing in the tropics
Adult height: 7m
Taste: Mandarin
Local Name: Valencia orange
Other types: Daidai, Sanguinelli Blood Orange, Citrus Nobilis king mandarin
Location: Ipoh-Malaysia
Adult height: 8m
Taste: Orange
Local Name: Indian Cherry, Lasura
Location: Native to China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia
Adult height: Up to 15 meters
Taste: Immature fruits are pickled or used as vegetables; ripe fruits are sweet and mucilaginous; leaves are edible;
Medical: Various parts possess antidiabetic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, cough suppressant, immune-modulator, and analgesic properties; traditionally used to treat digestive issues, fever, diarrhea, leprosy, gonorrhea, and respiratory problems
Extra info: Leaves are used as fodder; timber is utilized in construction; fruits yield a sticky pulp used to make glue; flowers are insect-pollinated; thrives in a variety of forests, from dry deciduous to moist deciduous and tidal forests
Local Name: Elephant Apple, Chalta
Location: Native to Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and extending to Malaysia and Indonesia
Adult height: Up to 30 meters
Taste: The fibrous, aromatic, and sour pulp of the fruit is edible; commonly used in curries, jams, and jellies;
Medical: Exhibits antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, and hepatoprotective properties; traditionally used to treat fever, diabetes, diarrhea, and food poisoning
Extra info: The fruit pulp can be used as a soap or shampoo; the tree is also valued for its ornamental large white flowers
Local Name: Zapote Negro
Location: Mexico
Adult height: 25m
Taste: Bitter and astringent when unripe, it should not be eaten until it is fully ripe and soft. The fruit is best mashed with a little orange, lemon or lime juice and chilled before serving.
Medical: Bark is used for fever and skin problems.
Local Name: Ceylon Gooseberry, Ketembilla
Location: Native to Sri Lanka and southern India
Adult height: Up to 6 meters
Taste: The dark purple, globose berries are juicy with an acidic flavor; typically used in jams, jellies, and beverages due to their tartness;
Medical: The fruit is rich in anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties
Extra info: Dioecious plant requiring both male and female specimens for fruit production; some female plants can produce fruit parthenogenetically; thrives in rich, loamy soils with adequate moisture during the fruiting season
Local Name: Pinha
Location: Colombia
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Fruit - raw. A sweet-tasting pulp. The pulp of the rough-textured round red fruit is said to be very desirable.
Local Name: Kei Apple
Location: Native to southern Africa, from the Kei River region northwards to Tanzania
Adult height: Typically 3–5 meters, occasionally up to 9 meters
Taste: The bright yellow, plum-like fruits are juicy and acidic; commonly used in jams, jellies, and sauces;
Medical: Fruits are rich in vitamin C and possess antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties; traditionally used to treat digestive issues and boost immunity
Extra info: The plant is dioecious, requiring both male and female plants for fruit production; its dense, spiny growth makes it ideal for use as a natural hedge or security barrier; drought and frost-resistant, it thrives in well-drained soils and can tolerate coastal conditions
Local Name: Peanutbutter jungle durian or Pulu
Location: Max 2 month dry
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Bubblegum with peanutbutter
Local Name: Musang King and Lahung
Location: Max 2 month dry
Adult height: 40m
Taste: strong, slightly bitter
Durio Red Prawn - Sweet and creamy, with a rich, custard-like texture and hints of caramel and berry flavors.
Durio dulcis - 35m / Intensely sweet with a strong caramel and butterscotch flavor, often described as the sweetest durian species.
Durio graveolens - 20m / Mildly sweet with a hint of bitterness, featuring a unique combination of roasted almonds and mild cheese undertones.
Durio Oxleyanus - 25m / Light and delicate, with a milky, honey-like sweetness and a slightly floral aftertaste.
Durio Petruk - Balanced sweetness with a mild bitterness, smooth texture, and a nutty, vanilla-like undertone.
Durio Sitokong - Rich and creamy, with a deep, complex sweetness and a slight alcoholic aftertaste.
Durian Kampung 6Huu, Kampan Ta Pae, Chanee, E-Nak, D220 Tokun Top, Kacang Hijau, Durio lowianus 20m, Black Thorn, D214 Tupai King, Dream Lover DL103, D78, Durio testudinarum, Durio kinabaluensis
Local Name: Guayabilla
Location: Colombia
Adult height: 3m
Taste: passion fruits
Local Name: Yellow mangosteen
Location: Bolivia
Adult height: 12m
Taste: mangosteen but less acidic
Local Name: Enipapo
Location: Colombia
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Fruit - raw or cooked. Aromatic but needs to be soft when eaten. Fruit is laxative.
Local Name: Macadamia nut
Location: Gold Coast
Adult height: 18m
Taste: Macadamia
Local Name: Kalimantan Mango, Kasturi
Location: Endemic to the Kalimantan region of Borneo, Indonesia
Adult height: Up to 25 meters
Taste: Sweet and aromatic orange flesh; all parts are edible.
Medical: Specific medicinal uses are not well-documented; related species have noted therapeutic properties
Extra info: Tree is extinct in the wild due to habitat destruction; valued for its timber in light construction and furniture making
Local Name: Moepel, Transvaal Red Milkwood
Location: Native to southern Africa, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and extending into tropical Africa
Adult height: Up to 15 meters
Taste: The ripe, yellow to orange fruits are sweet, slightly astringent, and high in vitamin C; consumed fresh or processed into jams and jellies;
Medical: Various parts of the tree are used traditionally to treat wounds, gastrointestinal issues, and diabetes; exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties
Extra info: The wood is reddish-brown, hard, and was traditionally used in wagon-making; the tree provides dense shade and is valued for its ornamental appeal; flowers are small, white, and fragrant, appearing from October to February
Local Name: Jamaican Cherry, Panama Berry, Singapore Cherry
Location: Native to southern Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America
Adult height: 3 to 12 meters
Taste: Sweet, juicy berries; edible parts include the fruit;
Medical: Leaves used in traditional medicine for headaches and cold symptoms; flowers have antiseptic and antispasmodic properties; bark has been used as an antibiotic
Extra info: Rapid growth; flowers and fruits year-round; attracts birds and other wildlife; tolerates a wide range of soil conditions
Local Name: False Jaboticaba, Blue Grape
Location: Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela
Adult height: Up to 10 meters
Taste: Sweet, mildly aromatic gelatinous pulp; rind is tough and inedible
Medical: Limited specific information; related species have noted medicinal properties
Extra info: Attractive peeling bark; glossy, oblong-lanceolate leaves; greater drought tolerance than jaboticaba
Local Name: Mobola plum
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 20m
Taste: rated the best African wild fruit, sweet potato taste and strawberry-like. Seeds can be eaten as well, an excellent substitute for almonds, roasted.
Local Name: jabúriti
Location: Trinidad
Adult height: 10m
Taste: The succulent pulp has a sweet, pleasant flavour.
Local Name: Abiu, Poutérier de la Guyane
Location: Native to the Amazonian regions of Brazil, the Guianas, and Peru
Adult height: 15 to 20 meters
Taste: The pulp of the fruit is sweet and can be consumed raw; no known toxic parts
Extra info: The tree produces latex, a characteristic common among Sapotaceae species
Local Name: Sapote
Location: Costa Rica
Adult height: 25m
Taste: finely granular texture and a rich, sweet almond-like flavour
Local Name: Curriola
Location: Native to South America, specifically Paraguay, eastern, central, and northern Brazil, and Bolivia
Adult height: 15 to 30 meters
Taste: The fruit is edible but not widely appreciated; no known toxic parts
Medical: Traditionally used in Brazil to treat worm infections, dysentery, pain, and inflammation
Extra info: The tree has an elegant appearance, making it suitable for landscaping; its wood is hard, heavy, and resilient, commonly used in outdoor and naval construction
Local Name: Kepel
Location: Kandangan, Java -
Adult height: 25m
Taste: The flavour is said to resemble coconut by some people, whilst others say it is like papaya
Other uses: It has long been used by Indonesian royalty as an oral deodorant, body deodorant, perfume. It is claimed that, after eating these aromatic fruits, one's whole body is permeated with the smell of roses. Another report says that all bodily excretions, including sweat and urine, smell strongly of violets.
Local Name: Riberry
Location: Gold Coast
Adult height: 30m
Taste: The berry has a tart, cranberry-like flavour, with a hint of cloves.
Local Name: non-bitter cacao
Location: Peru
Adult height: 10m
Taste: non-bitter cacao
Local Name: cupuaçu
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 15m
Taste: The white pulp of the cupuaçu has an odour described as a mix of chocolate and pineapple and is frequently used in desserts, juices and sweets. The juice tastes primarily like pear, banana, passion fruit, and melon. Chocolate made from cupuaçu, very similar to that made from cocoa, is called cupulate.
Local Name: White sapote
Location: South east Mexico
Adult height: 16m
Taste:
Inedible skin turning from green to yellow when ripe, and an edible pulp, which can range in flavor from bland to banana-like to peach to pear to vanilla flan.
Medical:Several in vitro studies have shown that zapotin has potential anticarcinogenic effects against isolated colon cancer cells.
Local Name: dragon's eye / Longan fruit
Location: Hainan
Adult height: 30m
Taste: Longan fruit usually has a sweeter taste and a distinct texture compared to langsat. Similar to Lychee.
Local Name: Bacuri Azedo
Location: East Brasil
Adult height: 15m
Taste: White pulp with a pleasant, acidic flavour
Local Name: African Mangosteen or Livingstone's apple
Location: South Thailand
Adult height: 12m
Taste: Apricot-like flavour
Local Name: Brazilian mangosteen, Madruno
Location: South Thailand
Adult height: 12m
Taste: juicy, slightly aromatic and pleasantly subacid
Medical: The yellow latex of the tree is used to treat ulcers and other sores
Local Name: purple mangosteen
Location: South Thailand
Adult height: 12m
Taste: sweet and tangy, juicy, somewhat fibrous, with fluid-filled vesicles
Local Name: Mundu
Location: South Thailand
Adult height: 15m
Taste: A pleasant, acid taste, it is mainly used as a breakfast fruit
Medical: The fruit cures scurvy (antiscorbutic) and calms the skin by reducing inflammation.
Local Name: Phalsa, Falsa
Location: Native to southern Asia, including India, Nepal, and Cambodia; cultivated in tropical regions
Adult height: 5–10 meters
Taste: The small, purple to black drupes have a sweet and sour flavor; consumed fresh, with salt and pepper, or processed into refreshing drinks and sherbets;
Medical: Exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and radioprotective properties; traditionally used to treat fever, diarrhea, and respiratory issues
Local Name: Wood Apple
Location: India
Adult height: 9m
Taste: The rind is very tough and must be cracked with a hammer. Aromatic, sour-sweet, somewhat mealy pulp. Also young leaves are eaten raw.
Medical: Effective against sore throat and helps digestion and works like a liver tonic. Very healthy. Also fruit is put on insect bites to reduce ichyness. The bark when chewed can be put on venomous wounds.
Local Name: Acerola, Barbados Cherry
Location: Native to Central and South America, including Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America
Adult height: 2 to 8 meters
Taste: Sweet-tart, juicy fruits; all parts are edible.
Medical: High vitamin C content; traditionally used for potential health benefits, though specific applications are not extensively documented
Extra info: Thrives in well-drained soils with full sun exposure; relatively drought-tolerant once established; also valued as an ornamental plant
Local Name: Sapodilla
Location: Yucatán Peninsula
Adult height: 20m
Taste: pear and brown sugar
Local Name: Spanish Cherry
Location: Native to South and Southeast Asia, naturalized in tropical Africa
Adult height: 15-30 meters
Taste: Sweet, edible parts include ripe orange fruits; seeds are also consumed after roasting. Flowers are highly fragrant.
Medical: Bark used as astringent and for dental ailments like bleeding gums; flowers used for heart tonics; fruits aid digestion; seeds applied for skin conditions; bark decoction used to treat diarrhoea and ulcers.
Extra info: Requires well-drained soils, tolerates short dry seasons (semi-wet); flowers are pollinated by insects and are highly fragrant, used traditionally in perfumes and ceremonies.
Local Name: Rumberry or Guavaberry
Location: Costa Rica
Adult height: 15m
Taste: The sweet, orange flesh is strongly, aromatically, fragrant and makes a delicious, pungently-flavoured jam or juice
Medical:The inner bark and leaves are boiled, and the water used as an antiseptic
Local Name: camboim and Cambuca do Sertao
Location: Haiti
Adult height: 4m
Taste: guava or a berry. A thick pulp with a pleasant, sweet-acidic flavour
Local Name: Red Rambutan (Lychee)
Location: South Thailand
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Lychee
Local Name: Avocado
Location: South Mexico
Adult height: 10m
Taste: Avocado. Do not eat the seed nor leaves.
Local Name: Coyo, Chinini, Yas
Location: Native to southern Mexico and Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
Adult height: Typically 15–20 meters, but can reach up to 50 meters
Taste: The fruit has an oily, avocado-like flavor with a milky juice, though the pulp can be fibrous; consumed fresh or used in traditional dishes;
Medical: Contains beneficial oils and nutrients; traditionally used for its antimicrobial properties
Extra info: The tree thrives in tropical forests and is considered endangered due to habitat loss; it is a close relative of the avocado and has potential as a rootstock for avocado cultivation
Local Name: Matoa
Location: Diglipur
Adult height: 40m
Taste: Rambutan like. The oily seeds are eaten after boiling or roasting.
Medical: Helps against migraine headaches
Local Name: Var. Bahama Trompo
Location: Yucatán Peninsula
Adult height: 10m
Taste: sweet potato and pumpkin, with a creamy texture
Local Name:
Location: Cameroon
Adult height: 15m
Taste: custard or sweet potato
Local Name: Blackberry fruit
Location: Yavisa, Panama
Adult height: 4m
Taste: Blackberry
Local Name: Bael or stone apple
Location: Bangladesh
Adult height: 13m
Taste: Marmalade with a rose smell. Young leaves and shoots - cooked as a vegetable or used as a condiment, these will reduce appatite. Tea is made from the flowers.
Medical:The dried pulp is used against diarrhoea. A decoction of the unripe fruit is highly valued as an aphrodisiac and has gained a reputation of being the viagra of the plant world. the psoralen in the pulp increases tolerance of sunlight and aids in the maintaining of normal skin colour. Leaves are used against diabetes.
Local Name: Bush Onion
Location: Gabon
Adult height:
Taste: fruits / nuts are used in cooking. All parts smell of onion or garlic. So cooking adds this to the dish.
Local Name: White star apple
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 40m
Taste: A pleasant, sweet-acid flavour fruit
Local Name: White Monkey Cola
Location: Kerala, India
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Cola lepidota is renowned for its fruit, which is a key ingredient in many popular beverages. Do not eat the seed.
Local Name: Monkey Kola
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 15m
Taste: Cola rostrata has sweet edible fruits, enjoyed by humans and also appreciated by monkeys, baboons and other primates. Do not eat the seeds.
Local Name: African walnut or Gabon Nut or Dibetou
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 35m
Taste: The flavour is mild and is said to be between the flavour of hazelnuts and chestnuts. Can be eaten raw or cooked or grilled.
Local Name: Atanga (African plum or Safou)
English Name: African Plum
Adult height: 40m
Description: A fruit tree whose oil-rich fruits yield a creamy, buttery pulp eaten raw or cooked. A pleasant, subacid flavour and edible oil, with folk medicinal uses.
Traditional Uses: Kernels are used to thicken sauces; bark and leaves treat dysentery and wounds. The resin from the bark is used to treat parasitic skin diseases, jiggers. The leaves are eaten raw with kola nut as an antiemetic (prevent vometing).
Local Name: Velvet tamarind
Location: Congo
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Bitter but edible leaves. The fruit is like tamarind, sweetly acid, somewhat astringent. The root-bark is used for the treatment of coughs.
Local Name: Sweet detar
Location: Congo
Adult height: 25m
Taste: The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, but for the most part, its pulp is transformed into flour. The leaves are used as a condiment or vegetable, as are its flowers. Showed strong inhibitory effects on HIV-1 or HIV-2 infections.
Local Name: Velvet apple
Location:
Adult height: 20m
Taste: The fruit emanates a strong, cheese-like odour, it can be rather dry and astringent, hence often cooked. The flesh can also be diced and combined with that of other fruits in salads. An infusion of the fruit is used as a gargle in treating mouth sores.
Local Name: Baru nut Very good tasting
Location:
Adult height: 20m
Taste: almond. Need to put in oven, otherwise toxic. The dry pulp can be eaten raw, and is also made into sweets and jellies. It can induce sweat.
Local Name: Andok (African bush mango)
English Name: African Bush Mango
Adult height: 40m
Description: A large fruit tree with highly prized fatty kernels (dika nuts) endemic to Gabon.
Traditional Uses: The fruits are often eaten fresh. Kernels are used to thicken sauces and prepare traditional dishes with roasted dika nuts.
English Name: Klainedoxa gabonensis
height: Up to about 40 m
Uses: The kernels are much relished for human use. They are eaten fresh or roasted, or crushed to a paste, and enter into cooking in numerous ways. The paste is rich and oily, and is mixed with other foods as a gravy or relish. The kernel prepared as a vegetable butter is a substitute for shea (karite) butter (Vitellaria paradoxa).
Local Name: Congo rubber
Location: Congo
Adult height: TREE VINE 100 meters long. This will grow around the big trees that will remain in the cleared area.
Taste: Typically, the flavour of the small oranges is both sweet and sour at the same time.
Medical:The latex from the stems is used medicinally. It is taken internally as a treatment against intestinal worms.
Local Name:
Location: Congo
Adult height: 10m
Taste: Fruit slightly acid and resinous taste and young leaves are edible. An edible, soluble gum is obtained from the stem. Rootbark is good against skin infections
Local Name: African Mammee apple
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 45m
Taste: The fruit usually has a good flavour, but is sometimes quite acidic and fibrous. The seeds are edible.
Medical:The bark exudes a yellow resinous sap. This, or the bark in decoction, is widely and commonly used to treat skin parasites and infections.
Local Name: White Mango / Binjai
Location: Trinidad
Adult height: 30m
Taste: The juicy, sweetish-sour, yellowish-white fleshed binjai fruit can be eaten fresh when fully ripe. Young leaves - eaten raw or used as a condiment. The fresh or dried seeds are grated, mixed with spices and dried fish, then used as a side dish with rice
Medical:
Local Name: Horse Mango, Bachang
Location: Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam
Adult height: Up to 30–35 meters
Taste: Fibrous flesh with a strong turpentine-like odor; sweeter varieties consumed fresh, others used in pickles, chutneys, and curries; unripe fruits' sap can cause skin irritation
Medical: Bark used in lotions for treating ulcers; leaves believed to alleviate or prevent fever; seeds used to treat eczema, scabies, and fungal infections
Extra info: Wood utilized for light indoor construction and as a source of charcoal
Local Name: Mango
Location: India
Adult height: 45m
Taste: mango. The young leaves are eaten as well.
Medical: The seeds are roasted and used to treat stubborn colds and coughs, obstinate diarrhoea and bleeding piles. The pulverised seed is made into a sweetened tea and drunk, or taken as powders, for treating dysentery. The flowers are aphrodisiac.
Local Name: Nut
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 20m
Taste: The seeds are eaten after cooking. Rich in oil, they have a nutty flavour
Medical:The bark is anti-inflammatory, analgesic and aphrodisiac. It is used internally to treat abdominal troubles, threatened abortion, intestinal parasites and blennorrhoea.
Local Name: Guinea Plum
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 50m
Taste: Edible with a flavour not unlike that of avocado pear. Roasted seeds are also nice and edible.
Medical:A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of anaemia
Local Name (Fang): Essang
English Name: African Locust Bean
Adult height: 45m
Description: A tall tree with globular flowers that develop into long pods with sweet yellow pulp. The flesh of the fruit can be eaten, and the seeds can be fermented to make a condiment.
Medicinal Uses: Its bark treats gastrointestinal issues and chronic coughs.
Local Name (Fang): Ebeignɛ
English Name: African Oil Bean
Height:
Description: Recognized for its giant woody pods that explosively release oil‐rich seeds.
Adult height: 36m
Traditional Uses: Seeds are roasted, ground, or pressed for oil. They can be ground into a flour and used in making bread. They are boiled for 3 - 12 hours; then the seedcoat is removed. When the cotyledons are cooled to room temperature they are sliced into small pieces of 4 - 5 cm × 1 - 2 mm and washed with water. The slices are boiled for 1 - 2 hours, cooled and soaked in water for 10 hours. Then the slices are drained in a basket lined with banana leaves. The drained slices are wrapped in blanched leaves of banana or Mallotus oppositifolius and incubated at ambient temperature for 4 - 6 days when prepared for use as a snack or sidedish, or for 7 - 10 days when prepared as a condiment for soups.
Medical: The bark infusion treats diarrhea and rheumatism.
Local Name: kpangnan butter tree
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Butter that can be stored for 2 years in a fridge.
Local Name: Bungo fruit
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 20m
Taste: Pleasantly acid. Raw seeds also edible. A decoction of the root is used as a vermifuge and as part of a snake-bite remedy. The latex is used externally to heal sores, and is also applied to maturate abscesses.
Local Name: Monkey orange
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 8m
Taste: The pulp is very tasty but the seeds are toxic. The root can be chewed to alleviate stomach disorders, eczema and sores on the skin. It is also an alleged cure for gonorrhoea
Local Name: Miracle berry
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 2m
Taste: Magic as it makes sour taste disappear. The seeds have anticonvulsant potential that antioxidant-rich parts of the seed may protect against death and reduce recovery time after a seizure
Local Name: Waterberry
Location: Africa
Adult height: 25m
Taste: Fruit - raw, cooked or made into a beverage or a vinegar. Juicy, with a sweet flavour, it is eaten as a wayside nibble. Although sweet, it is also rather bland. It needs to be fully ripe. The fruit is very perishable and needs to be eaten soon after harvesting
Other uses: Bark is very toxic. Leaf decoctions are used as a treatment for intestinal parasites, stomach-ache and diarrhoea.
Local Name: Amvout, Gabon grape
Location: Native to West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Adult height: Up to 20 meters
Taste: Dark red fruits with a vinous flavor; edible raw;
Medical: Bark used for treating constipation in infants, sterility, dysmenorrhea, hemorrhage during pregnancy, bronchial affections, headaches, feverish stiffness, rheumatic pains; also serves as a vermifuge and aphrodisiac; fruit used as a tonic for convalescents and anemic individuals
Extra info: Exhibits cauliflory; leaves can reach up to 1.5 meters in length with 10 to 35 leaflets
Local Name: African peach
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 25m
Taste: Strawberry taste and a cure for cough
Local Name: Sugar plum
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 35m
Taste: Sweet fruits and aphrodisiac roots.
Local Name: Mahobohobo
Location: Congo
Adult height: 10m
Taste: pear or plum taste
Local Name: African medlar
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 8m
Taste: pleasant apple-like flavor. Seeds are also eaten raw.
Medical:The root works very well for snake-bite remedy and anti-malaria medication and against parasites and worms.
Local Name: black plums tree
Location: Tanzania
Adult height: 15m
Taste: Prune with a mealy texture. The young leaves are often used as a herb for cooking but can also be used for making tea. Leaves are an esteemed vegetable. The seeds are roasted and used to make a coffee-like drink.
Medical:Both the dried and the fresh fruits are eaten as a treatment against diarrhoea. The roots are a good gonorrhoea medicine and to treat backache. The leaves are painkillers and are used as a treatment for headache, stiffness, measles, rash, fever, chickenpox and hemiplegia. The leave juice squeezed into the eyes to treat conjunctivitis and other eye troubles.
Local Name: xxx
Location: Somalia
Adult height: 5m
Taste: sweet and mealy
Medical:Bark extracts are used in the treatment of skin diseases and toothache
Local Name: Hog plum
Location: Gabon
Adult height: 10m
Taste: fruit but not the seed, acid-sweet, aromatic, almond-like flavour. Flower petals - eaten in soups. The fruit is useful in treating habitual constipation.
Medical:The leaves and twigs are laxative. An infusion is used as a treatment for fevers and colds. The leaves are used as a treatment for headaches, angina, and as a poison antidote. The roots are used to treat skin problems, headaches, leprosy, haemorrhoids, sexually transmitted diseases, guinea worm, sleeping sickness, oedema, and act as an antidote to poison. The bark is used in decoction, dried or powdered as a cicatrizant and applied to skin ulcers.
Local Name: Sweet Wormwood, Qinghao
Location: Native to Asia, now cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
Medical Uses: Potent **antimalarial** properties (source of artemisinin), antiviral, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory. Artemisinin is fast-acting and highly potent against Plasmodium, including strains resistant to older drugs like chloroquine. Notably, even some drug-resistant malaria cases have responded to whole-plant Artemisia remedies. In a Congolese clinic, 18 patients with ACT-resistant malaria (unresponsive to standard meds) were treated with tablets made from dried A. annua leaves; all 18 recovered within 5 days. Combine this with the fever tree and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and you have the best combi.
Taste: Bitter, aromatic, with a slightly herbal undertone.
Nice to know: Used in **traditional Chinese medicine** for centuries; key ingredient in modern malaria treatments. The leaves can be dried and brewed as a tea or infusion – a traditional practice sometimes used as a first-aid treatment for malaria. Simple hot-water infusions or even chewing the leaves release artemisinin and other synergistic compounds. To ensure full parasite clearance, the recommended approach is to use artemisinin in combination therapies.
Local Name: Andiroba tree or crabwood
Location: Amazon
Adult height: 40m
Use: Oil extracted from the seeds have a non addictive pain killer quality and it has insecticidal properties. The bark is an anti-malaria treatment. The stem bark cures skin ulcers and other skin issues. It also is a natural insect repellent. Carapa is relatively easy to use in raw form. Bark decoctions are prepared by boiling pieces of bark in water – a method long practiced in the Amazon. The seeds (nuts), which are large and oil-rich, can be grated and mixed into warm water to release their medicinal compounds for ingestion. These preparations do not require any special technology. The dual utility of Andiroba is worth noting: taking it internally may fight the malaria infection, while applying its oil externally repels mosquitoes, potentially preventing additional bites. While not as universally potent as artemisinin or quinine, Andiroba’s bark and seed remedies are simple and accessible for communities in tropical America and Africa, and they contribute to a holistic approach (treating infection and preventing re-infection).
Local Name: Fever tree or Quinine Tree
Location: Peru
Adult height: 15m
Use: Cinchona has been historically sought after for its medicinal value, as the bark of several species yields quinine and other alkaloids. These were the only effective treatments against malaria during the height of European colonialism, which made them of great economic and political importance. Trees in the genus are also known as fever trees because of their antimalarial properties. Next to Artemisia annua the best against malaria.
Local Name: Kola Nut
Location: Native to West and Central Africa, thrives in tropical forests
Height: 25m heigh
Medical Uses: The seeds are chewed fresh or dried for their stimulant properties due to caffeine content. Natural stimulant, aids digestion, boosts mental alertness.
Taste: Bitter when fresh, becomes slightly sweet when dried.
Nice to know: Traditionally chewed for energy and focus; historically used in the production of cola-flavored beverages.
Local Name: African yellow wood
Location: Congo
Adult height: 25m
Use: This tree from Congo is one of the key plants used in ethnomedicine for treating malaria. Studies have reported that extracts from the bark demonstrate activity against Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly malaria-causing parasite. Very effective.
Local Name: Sleeping Tree
Location: North west dry Brazil
Adult height: 15m
Use: Decoction made from the leaves and bark (frying and then boiling to make tea) calm an overexcited nervous system.
Local Name (Fang): Eboga
English Name: Iboga
Description: Iboga is a small rainforest tree/shrub revered in the Bwiti spiritual tradition of the Fang and neighboring peoples. Its yellowish root bark contains ibogaine, a powerful alkaloid.
Medicinal & Spiritual Uses: In low doses, iboga acts as a stimulant – hunters chew it to stay alert. In high doses, the Fang use it as a sacred visionary medicine during initiation ceremonies, inducing vivid hallucinations that are central to Bwiti rites. Consuming iboga is said to open a doorway to the spiritual world, allowing initiates to experience intense visions and communicate with ancestors.
Interesting Note: According to oral legend, forest Pygmies first discovered iboga by observing wild boar or porcupines eating its roots and behaving oddly. It is called the “tree of life” in Bwiti—a bridge between the living and the spirits. Its psychoactive power was so revered that French researchers once marketed a medication named after Lambaréné, derived from iboga, for its purported mental health benefits.
Local Name: Blue Java Banana (Ice Cream Banana)
Location: It is a cultivated variety of Musa balbisiana and Musa acuminata, originally from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Adult height: 5–9m (plant height varies)
Taste: Creamy with a vanilla-like flavor
Use: The fruit is edible and known for its creamy texture and vanilla-like flavor, often eaten raw, blended into smoothies, or used in desserts. The inner trunk (pseudostem) can also be eaten in some cuisines - Stem Stir-Fry – Stir-fry with garlic, chili, turmeric, and a bit of lime juice for a tangy, crunchy side dish. The Blue Java bananas have a low glycemic index. Banana Stem and Corn Stew – Cook diced banana stem with corn, tomatoes, and jungle vegetables for a hearty, fiber-rich stew.
Local Name: Giant Highland Banana
Location: Montane forests of New Guinea and Indonesia
Adult height: Up to 15 meters
Taste: The yellowish pulp is edible and sweet when cooked, with a flavor reminiscent of butternut squash mixed with sweet banana and a hint of tangy citrus; contains large, hard seeds
Medical: No specific medicinal uses documented
Extra info: Largest known banana species; thrives in tropical montane forests; requires highland conditions for optimal growth
Local Name: Hairy Banana (Velvet Banana)
Location: Hybrid cultivar grown in tropical and subtropical regions
Adult height: Approximately 4–8m
Taste: Unique sweet flavor with a hint of tanginess
Use: Consumed fresh and appreciated for ornamental purposes. Banana Stem and Cassava Flour Patties – Mix finely chopped banana stem with cassava flour, season, and pan-fry into crispy patties.
Local Name: Corn (Maize)
Location: Native to the Americas; cultivated globally
Adult height: Typically 2–3m tall
Taste: Sweet varieties are sugary, while field corn is more starchy
Use: Consumed fresh, processed into cornmeal, or made into popcorn. Best are the
tortillas.
Local Name: Cassava (Manioc, Yuca)
Location: Native to South America; now widely cultivated in tropical regions
Adult height: 2–3m (shrub-like growth)
Taste: Starchy and slightly sweet when cooked
Use: Staple food used for flour, tapioca, and various dishes.
Local Name: Papaya Giant Formosa
Location: Cultivated in tropical regions; originally from Central America
Adult height: Typically 3–10m
Taste: Sweet with a musky flavor
Use: Eaten fresh or used in smoothies and fruit salads. Roasted & Spiced Papaya Seeds (Crunchy Snack):
Rinse and dry the seeds. Toss them with a little oil, salt, and spices (like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder).
Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Eat them as a snack or sprinkle over salads.
Local Name: Mexican Papaya
Location: Native to Mexico and Central America
Adult height: Typically 3–7m
Taste: Sweet with a distinct tropical flavor
Use: Consumed fresh, in juices, or fruit salads. Roasted & Spiced Papaya Seeds (Crunchy Snack):
Rinse and dry the seeds. Toss them with a little oil, salt, and spices (like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder).
Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Eat them as a snack or sprinkle over salads.
Local Name: Papaya Red Lady
Location: Cultivated in tropical regions, popular in Southeast Asia
Adult height: Around 3–7m
Taste: Sweet with a rich, vibrant flavor
Use: Eaten fresh, in desserts, and fruit salads. Roasted & Spiced Papaya Seeds (Crunchy Snack):
Rinse and dry the seeds. Toss them with a little oil, salt, and spices (like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder).
Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Eat them as a snack or sprinkle over salads.
Local Name: Papaya Red Nemesis
Location: Cultivated in tropical regions
Adult height: Approximately 3–7m
Taste: Rich, sweet with a tangy note
Use: Consumed fresh or made into juices and salads. Roasted & Spiced Papaya Seeds (Crunchy Snack):
Rinse and dry the seeds. Toss them with a little oil, salt, and spices (like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder).
Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Eat them as a snack or sprinkle over salads.
Local Name: Papaya Solo Sunrise
Location: Grown in tropical climates
Adult height: Typically 3–7m
Taste: Exceptionally sweet with a slight tang
Use: Eaten fresh, in salads, or blended into smoothies. Roasted & Spiced Papaya Seeds (Crunchy Snack):
Rinse and dry the seeds. Toss them with a little oil, salt, and spices (like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder).
Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Eat them as a snack or sprinkle over salads.
Local Name: Papaya Tainung
Location: Developed in Taiwan; popular in Asia
Adult height: Around 3–7m
Taste: Sweet and flavorful with a buttery texture
Use: Consumed fresh, in juices, and fruit salads. The seeds are very healthy. Studies have found that papaya seeds could help fight infections, promote kidney health, protect against cancer, and enhance digestive health. But do not over-eat the seeds. Roasted & Spiced Papaya Seeds (Crunchy Snack):
Rinse and dry the seeds. Toss them with a little oil, salt, and spices (like smoked paprika, garlic powder, or chili powder).
Roast at 150°C (300°F) for 10-15 minutes until crunchy. Eat them as a snack or sprinkle over salads.
Local Name: American Beauty Dragonfruit
Location: Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions
Adult height: 6m Climbing cactus; typically trained on supports
Taste: Mildly sweet with a refreshing flavor
Use: Eaten fresh, in smoothies, and as a decorative fruit in salads. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Asunta Dragonfruit
Location: Grown in tropical climates, popular in Southeast Asia
Adult height: Climbing cactus; requires support for optimal growth
Taste: Sweet with a subtle tang
Use: Consumed fresh, in juices, or as an exotic salad addition. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Bruni Dragonfruit
Location: Cultivated in tropical regions as a variant of common pitaya
Adult height: Climbing cactus; usually requires support
Taste: Sweet with a mildly tart flavor
Use: Often eaten fresh, in desserts, or blended into drinks. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Ecuador Polara Dragonfruit
Location: Grown in tropical climates, notably in Ecuador
Adult height: Climbing cactus; typically needs support
Taste: Refreshingly sweet with a slight tang
Use: Consumed fresh, in fruit salads, or as a garnish. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Purple Haze Dragonfruit
Location: Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions
Adult height: Climbing cactus variety; requires support
Taste: Mildly sweet with a unique flavor profile
Use: Eaten fresh, in smoothies, and as an ornamental fruit. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Sugar Dragon Dragonfruit
Location: Grown in tropical regions
Adult height: Climbing cactus; usually trained on supports
Taste: Exceptionally sweet with a delicate flavor
Use: Consumed fresh, in fruit salads, or as a decorative addition. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Thai Dragon Dragonfruit
Location: Popular in Southeast Asia and tropical regions
Adult height: Climbing cactus; requires support for growth
Taste: Sweet with a hint of tang
Use: Eaten fresh, in juices, or as an exotic garnish. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Tricia Dragonfruit
Location: Cultivated in tropical regions
Adult height: Climbing cactus variety; grown with support
Taste: Sweet with a mildly tart finish
Use: Consumed fresh, in fruit salads, or blended into beverages. The flower buds can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or brewed into tea.
Local Name: Bacopa or Brahmi
Location: Native to wetlands in India; cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide
Adult height: Typically grows to about 20–30cm tall
Nice to know: Celebrated in Ayurvedic medicine, Bacopa monnieri is prized for its brain properties and delicate white or pale blue flowers, making it a popular choice in both medicinal and ornamental water gardens.
Use: The leaves in salads are a natural remedy to support memory and reduce anxiety, but are a bit bitter.
Local Name: Gotu Kola
Location: Native to Asia; widely found in wetlands and cultivated globally
Adult height: Reaches about 20–30cm in height
Nice to know: With a longstanding reputation in traditional medicine, Centella asiatica is celebrated for its potential to enhance cognitive function, improve circulation, and promote wound healing. Its delicate flavor also makes it a favorite in herbal teas and salads.
Use: Commonly used in herbal remedies, skincare formulations, and as an edible green in culinary dishes.
Local Name: Hornwort, Coontail
Location: Native worldwide in temperate and tropical regions; commonly found in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waters
Adult height: Length up to 3 meters
Taste: Used in deeper sweet waters to create oxygen for fish;
Medical: Traditionally used for cooling, treating biliousness, and scorpion stings; recent studies suggest anticancer properties, particularly gastrointestinal cancer prevention
Extra info: Rapid-growing aquatic plant; excellent for water purification and algae control; provides oxygen and habitat for aquatic life; lacks true roots and floats freely or anchors itself with modified leaves
Local Name: Chinese Water Chestnut, Water Chestnut
Location: Native to Asia, tropical Africa, and Oceania; commonly found in marshes, ponds, and ditches
Adult height: 50 to 200 centimeters
Taste: Sweet, crisp corms; edible raw, boiled, grilled, pickled, or canned;
Medical: Corms are rich in carbohydrates and provide dietary fiber
Extra info: Remains crisp after cooking; cultivated in flooded fields similar to rice paddies; raw consumption may pose a risk of transmitting fasciolopsiasis if not properly cleaned
Local Name: Blue Lotus
Location: The National flower of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Adult height: Emergent leaves typically reach 20–30cm above the water
Nice to know: Revered in ancient Egyptian culture for its psychoactive and symbolic properties, the Blue Lotus has been featured in art and used in ritual ceremonies to promote relaxation and visionary experiences.
Use: The flowers are employed in herbal teas, aromatherapy, and as an ornamental accent in water features. The roots, like other water lily tubers, have a mildly starchy quality. They can be boiled, steamed, or even added to dishes similarly to other edible tubers. They have no psychoactive properties. The tubers of this species are completely edible as long as they are boiled or steamed for 20 minutes (otherwise toxic), during the dry season they consist almost entirely of starch, and were eaten in West Africa, usually boiled or roasted.
Local Name: Pickerelweed
Location: Native to North America; naturalized in various wetland regions
Adult height: Typically 60–100cm tall
Nice to know: Pickerelweed not only adds vibrant blue hues to aquatic landscapes but also plays a vital role in improving pond ecosystems by absorbing excess nutrients and stabilizing pond edges.
Use: Enhances water quality through natural filtration and serves as an attractive ornamental plant in water gardens. The starchy seed can be eaten fresh or dried like nuts and added to granola or cereal, or can be boiled, roasted, or ground into flour.
Local Name: Chinese Passion Fruit Melon “Maracuyá Chino”
Location: Native to Central America—from Mexico through Panama—thriving along tropical forest edges, riverbanks, and roadsides.
Vine Length: A vigorous climber reaching about 20 m (≈60 ft) in length.
Taste: Produces large yellow–orange, grapefruit-sized fruits with soft, orange–red pulp that is sweet, creamy, and reminiscent of a milky papaya.
Unique Characteristics: Despite its name, it is not related to true passionfruits nor is it from China. Its unusual fruit is sometimes blended into milkshake-like drinks, and the vine makes an attractive ornamental in humid tropical settings.
Local Name: Kiwano, Horned Melon, Jelly Melon
Location: Native to Southern and Central Africa
Length:
Medical Uses: High in water content, vitamins C and A; supports hydration and digestion. Also promotes healthy red blood cells and healthy blood sugar levels. Because of magnesium it also helps with the mood.
Taste: Mildly sweet, tangy, with a jelly-like texture.
Nice to know: The bright orange spiky fruit is packed with antioxidants and is eaten fresh or in drinks.
Local Name: Gac (or Spiny Bitter Gourd), sometimes called Chinese Cucumber or Baby Jackfruit. Also known by names like kakthr (India) and mù biē guǒ (China).
Location: Native to Southeast Asia and Northeastern Australia (from Vietnam and Thailand to Cambodia and Queensland), typically growing in tropical monsoon climates and often seen climbing on village fences.
Vine Length: A large, perennial, dioecious vine that can reach approximately 15 m (50 ft) under ideal conditions, with vigorous tendrils and deeply lobed leaves.
Taste:The bright orange arils are mildly sweet and prized more for their rich color and nutritional content (high in beta-carotene) than for an intense flavor; the young green fruit is also cooked in curries. The red, oily pulp surrounding the seeds is cooked, to flavour and give its red colour to the rice dish 'xoi gac', which is served at festive occasions such as weddings in Vietnam. Do not eat the seeds.
Unique Characteristics: Gac fruit is celebrated for its high nutritional value and striking appearance; its spiky orange fruits are used in traditional dishes (such as red rice) and require both male and female vines for proper fruit set. The bitterness can be removed by soaking the fruit in salt. The fruit sap is used to heal wounds.
Local Name: Nibima, Ghanaian Quinine
Location: Native to West and Central Africa, thrives in tropical regions
Length: 5m long, climbing vine.
Medical Uses: Strong **antimalarial** properties, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, supports immune function.
Taste: Bitter, similar to quinine.
Nice to know: Traditionally used in **herbal medicine** for treating **malaria, fevers, and infections**; contains **cryptolepine**, a potent bioactive compound. Cryptolepis root infusion has shown high efficacy in trials, clearing P. falciparum infections comparably to standard drugs. It is easy to prepare as a yellow root tea.
Local Name: Winged-Stem Passionflower or Fragrant Granadilla; in Amazonia called “ouvaca” (meaning “red star”) and also referred to as Maracujá de refresco in Brazil.
Location: Native to the Amazon Basin (eastern Peru through Brazil), where it favors warm, humid tropical climates and rainforest margins.
Vine Length: An evergreen vine that grows 6 m or more (20 ft+), climbing by tendrils and characterized by distinctive 4-winged stems.
Taste: Produces egg-shaped yellow–orange passion fruits (8–15 cm) with highly aromatic, sweet, and juicy pulp.
Unique Characteristics: Its spectacular flowers—with red petals and fringed filaments—are a major attraction, and its fruits are highly prized in Local markets. The vine also attracts diverse pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Local Name: “Maracujá-Mochila” in Brazil.
Location: Native to Brazil and adjacent regions—found in savannas and dry forests from Brazil into Paraguay and Bolivia—and well adapted to seasonal dryness.
Vine Length: A fast-growing climber reaching about 4.5 m (15 ft) with deeply lobed, slightly blue–green leaves and twining tendrils.
Taste: Bears medium-sized, round orange fruits (~5 cm in diameter) with juicy, sweet, translucent pulp of mild flavor.
Unique Characteristics: Notable for its beautiful, frilly lavender flowers, it is often used in breeding ornamental and cold–tolerant passionfruit hybrids.
Local Name: Passion Fruit (Purple Passionfruit or “Purple Granadilla”); in Hawaii, sometimes called “lilikoi”.
Location: Native to subtropical South America (from southern Brazil to northern Argentina) and now grown in warm, frost–free regions worldwide.
Vine Length: A perennial climbing vine that reaches 3–5 m in cultivation (and up to 10 m in the wild), with slender, woody stems and evergreen foliage.
Taste: Produces round purple fruits (4–5 cm) filled with aromatic orange pulp that is tangy–sweet, seedy, and juicy—ideal for juices and desserts.
Unique Characteristics: This is the most commercially important passionfruit, prized for its flavor and ease of fruiting (self-fertile), and it has historic ties to missionary symbolism.
Local Name: Yellow Passionfruit, Golden Passionfruit, or “Lilikoi” (in Hawaii), and sometimes maracuyá amarillo.
Location: A cultivar/forma of P. edulis originally from South America, now grown in tropical lowlands worldwide.
Vine Length: A vigorous climber that can reach 10 m or more and is often even more robust than the purple form.
Taste: Larger fruits (up to grapefruit-sized) with a smooth yellow rind and brightly acidic, aromatic pulp ideal for juices, syrups, and processed drinks.
Unique Characteristics: Requires cross-pollination and is more tropical in its climate preference. It is widely used in breeding for disease resistance and as rootstock.
Local Name: Giant Yellow Brazilian Passionfruit or Giant Granadilla (a cultivar of yellow passionfruit).
Location: Developed in Brazil for extra-large fruit production; it is a selected form of P. edulis f. flavicarpa.
Vine Length: Extremely vigorous, capable of climbing tall trees or poles—typically reaching 10–15 m in length.
Taste: Fruits can weigh up to 0.5 kg (~1 lb) and measure 15–20 cm long; when ripe they turn yellow–orange with bright red–orange pulp that is very sour alone but excellent when sweetened.
Unique Characteristics: Notable for its sheer fruit size and heavy production. Due to self-incompatibility, cross-pollination is necessary, making it a prized selection among fruit enthusiasts.
Local Name: Maypop
Location:
Vine Length:
Taste: The fruit has a mildly sweet-tart taste similar to an apricot and a pleasant scent when fully ripe. You can add dried passionflower to boiling water to create an herbal tea.
Unique Characteristics: Help relieve insomnia and anxiety. It appears to boost the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in your brain. This compound lowers brain activity, which may help you relax and sleep better.
Local Name: Water Lemon (also Yellow Granadilla, Jamaican Honeysuckle, or pomme liane); in Hawaii sometimes called orange lilikoi.
Location: Native to northern South America and the West Indies (Amazon basin and Caribbean); now cultivated widely in tropical lowlands and parts of Southeast Asia.
Vine Length: A tall, woody vine that can climb 9–15 m (30–50 ft) high into trees.
Taste: The small orange or greenish fruits (5–7 cm) have extremely juicy, white–yellow pulp with a mild, sweet, and perfumed flavor and very low acidity.
Unique Characteristics: Often called “five flavor fruit” because of its delicate blend of sweetness and fragrance; its attractive white and purple flowers add ornamental appeal.
Local Name: Sweet Granadilla (or Spanish Granadilla dulce) and simply “Granadilla” in many regions.
Location: Native to the Andes of Central and South America (from Central America through Bolivia) and now also cultivated in highland tropics worldwide.
Vine Length: An evergreen climbing vine with stems up to 5 m long—easier to manage on trellises in cooler climates.
Taste: The round orange–yellow fruits (5–7 cm) open to reveal a transparent, very sweet and aromatic pulp with a delicate grape– or melon-like flavor.
Unique Characteristics: Its firm rind allows for excellent storage and transport, and it has been a popular fruit in Andean markets since the 16th century.
Local Name: Sweet Calabash, also called Sweet Cup or Conch Apple in the Caribbean (occasionally “sour granadilla”).
Location: Native to the Caribbean and northern South America (from the West Indies and Trinidad to Venezuela and Guyana).
Vine Length: A slender, fast-growing vine with stems reaching 3–10 m (10–33 ft), climbing via tendrils.
Taste: The small, round purple–green gourds (about 5 cm) feature a very hard, woody shell with golden pulp that is intensely sweet yet balanced with tart notes.
Unique Characteristics: Its exceptionally hard rind requires a tool to open. Historically popular for its intense perfume and flavor, it is also one of the few self–pollinating passionfruits.
Local Name: “Poro Poro” or sometimes as Andean Curuba.
Location: Native to high–altitude cloud forests of the Andes (from Colombia through Bolivia, at elevations of 2,000–3,800 m) with cool, moist conditions.
Vine Length: A mountain passionflower vine growing approximately 4–6 m long, woody and vigorous, and tolerant of light frost.
Taste: Produces round to oval yellow fruits (6–8 cm) with sweet, juicy orange pulp that is described as a mild blend of orange and passionfruit.
Unique Characteristics: Remarkably cold–hardy for a passionflower and prized for its potential in breeding cold–tolerant hybrids; its long tubular flowers attract hummingbirds.
Local Name: Giant Granadilla, also called Giant Tumbo or Badea (often simply “Granadilla” in context).
Location: Native to tropical lowland America (northern South America and the Caribbean) and now cultivated widely in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
Vine Length: A massive perennial vine with distinctive four–angled stems that can climb 10–15 m (up to 30 m in dense tropical forests).
Taste: Produces huge fruits (15–30 cm long) with a thick, firm rind and whitish translucent pulp that is aromatic, mildly sweet–tart, and even used as a vegetable in some cuisines.
Unique Characteristics: Recognized as the largest fruit of any Passiflora; its impressive size and ornamental value have even led to humorous variants such as “Penis Passionfruit.”
Local Name: Banana Passionfruit (also “Curuba”, “Taxo”, or “Tumbo”; in Hawaii, known as Banana Poka).
Location: Native to the Andes (found in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru at 1,800–3,000 m), favoring cool, moist highland climates and known to be invasive in some regions.
Vine Length: A vigorous, woody vine that can reach 10 m or more, with three–lobed fuzzy leaves and a twining habit.
Taste: Elongated yellow–orange berries (10–15 cm long) with a soft rind and bright orange pulp that is tangy–sweet, often described as a mild mango–orange mix.
Unique Characteristics: Adorned with long tubular pink flowers, it is self–fertile and capable of heavy fruiting (up to 200–300 fruits per season) while also having invasive tendencies in certain climates.
Local Name: Bat–Leaved Passionflower” (from Latin vespertilio) and known in Suriname as “Markoesa di Bos” (also marketed as Black Passionflower).
Location: Native to northern South America—found in the rainforests of the Guianas, southern Venezuela, and parts of Brazil—while also tolerating subtropical conditions.
Vine Length: A relatively small, herbaceous climber typically 1.5–3 m long, with thin stems and distinctive broad, bilobed “bat–winged” leaves.
Taste: Produces small round purple–black fruits (3–3.5 cm) with sweet, soft, and pleasantly aromatic pulp reminiscent of lychee or grape.
Unique Characteristics: Being dioecious, it requires both male and female plants for fruit set; its delicate white, fringed flowers and unusual foliage make it a collector’s favorite.
Local Name: Passiflora Yulia Sims, essentially a yellow passionflower variety often known simply as a yellow passionfruit vine.
Location: As a cultivated variety, it does not have a wild range but behaves like other tropical passionfruit vines in warm, sunny conditions.
Vine Length: A vigorous climber reaching approximately 3–5 m (10–16 ft) in cultivation, requiring support for optimal growth.
Taste: Produces yellow passionfruit–type fruits with a sweet tropical flavor reminiscent of mild passionfruit or sweet granadilla.
Unique Characteristics: Noted for its especially large, showy yellow flowers and reliable fruit production; like many yellow passionfruits, cross–pollination is usually needed.
Local Name: “Mango Passionfruit” or “Kubal/Koubal” in Borneo; in its native Andes it is considered a type of curuba/tumbo.
Location: Native to Ecuador’s Azuay province and adjoining Andean areas, growing in high–altitude cloud forests; it has even been introduced to New Zealand as an environmental weed.
Vine Length: An evergreen climber that can reach 6–12 m in rainforest conditions, with robust, fast–growing stems and three–lobed, slightly fuzzy leaves.
Taste: The yellow–green fruits (10–15 cm) turn orange when fully ripe; the pulp is very sweet and often compared to orange sherbet or a blend of ripe mango and pineapple.
Unique Characteristics: Nicknamed “mango passionfruit” for its distinct tropical, sorbet–like flavor and large pale pink flowers with long tubes that attract hummingbirds; it is extremely rare in cultivation.
Local Name: “Nanas Batu” (Rock Pineapple) in Malay/Indonesian; sometimes also called Gedong or Forest Lychee.
Location: Native to the lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, etc.).
Vine Length: An enormous woody climber that can reach up to 15–25 m high into the forest canopy.
Taste: Fruits develop in heavy clusters; each oval fruit (approximately 5–6 cm long) has yellow–brown fuzzy skin and soft, sweet, juicy, lychee-like pulp.
Unique Characteristics: Its intense fragrance and heavy clusters of fruit (which resemble stone-like pineapples) make it a notable wild edible and a subject of indigenous medicinal use.
Local Name: Long Pepper or Indian Long Pepper (Pippali in Sanskrit/Hindi); in Indonesian, cabai Jawa.
Location: Native to South Asia (India, Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia (Indonesia), where it grows in tropical and subtropical forests and is widely cultivated.
Vine Length: A perennial climbing vine that reaches about 2–3 m in cultivation and up to 6 m in ideal tropical conditions.
Taste: Its dried, catkin-like fruit spikes are used as a spice with a flavor similar to black pepper but hotter, carrying a subtle sweetness and earthy, almost cinnamon–like undertones.
Unique Characteristics: Highly valued since ancient times in both culinary and Ayurvedic medicine; its long, cone–shaped inflorescences are harvested and dried to produce the spice. Indian long pepper is used to improve appetite and digestion, as well as treat stomachache, heartburn, indigestion, intestinal gas, diarrhea, and cholera.
Local Name: Black Pepper (the peppercorn vine), also called Malabar Pepper.
Location: Native to southwest India’s Kerala region and now widely cultivated in tropical regions such as Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Brazil.
Vine Length: A woody perennial vine that climbs tree trunks or poles—reaching up to 10 m in the wild, though typically maintained around 3–4 m in cultivation.
Taste: Offers a pungent, hot flavor from its piperine content, with aromatic, peppery notes; depending on its processing, it may be used as black, white, or green pepper.
Unique Characteristics: Often dubbed the “King of Spices,” it has a storied history in global trade and was once even used as a form of currency; its climbing habit utilizes aerial roots in monsoon climates.
Local Name: Five-Flavor Berry (Wu Wei Zi)
Location: Native to south China
Adult length: 15m
Taste: Fruits are known for a unique combination of five flavors: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and pungent;
Medical: Adoptogen, helps with stress release and sleep and energy.
Extra info: Often cultivated for ornamental purposes; prefers well-drained soils and partial shade
Local Name: Chayote (also called Mirliton, Cho-Cho, or Pear Gourd); in Mexico, it is also known as Pataste.
Location: Native to Mexico and Central America, now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Vine Length: A vigorous, perennial vine that can spread up to 10–12 m or more, with tendrils and tuberous roots enabling perennial regrowth.
Taste: The pale green, pear–shaped fruit offers crisp, mild flesh with a blend of cucumber, zucchini, and potato flavors; its light taste readily absorbs seasonings.
Unique Characteristics: All parts of the plant are edible—the fruit, young shoots, and starchy roots—and it has been a culinary staple since Aztec times.
Local Name: Cassabanana (also “Calabaza Melón” or “Fruta de Huevo”); the name hints at its banana-like shape and strong aroma.
Location: Native to tropical South America (Brazil, Amazon basin) and often grown around rural homes in Brazil, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and elsewhere in the lowland tropics.
Vine Length: A gigantic herbaceous perennial vine that can reach 15–20 m or more, with aggressive, hairy vines that cover large areas.
Taste: Its enormous cylindrical fruit (up to 60 cm long) has a thick melon-like rind and bright orange flesh that is mildly sweet and highly aromatic.
Unique Characteristics: The fruit is highly fragrant when ripe—often used as a natural air freshener—and is valued both ornamentally and for its traditional medicinal properties.
Local Name: Snake Gourd or Snake Cucumber (also called Chichinda in Hindi).
Location: Native to South and Southeast Asia (from India to Indonesia) and widely cultivated in tropical climates.
Vine Length: A fast-growing annual climber reaching 4–6 m in length, with coiled tendrils and lobed leaves designed to support its extremely long, serpentine fruits.
Taste: The fruits—when young and tender (about 30–60 cm long)—offer a mild, slightly mucilaginous flavor similar to zucchini, while overripe fruits may develop a red pulp used as a tomato substitute.
Unique Characteristics: The snake-like appearance of the fruit and the attractive, white, fringed, night-blooming flowers (which also play a role in Ayurvedic cooling remedies) make it a distinctive garden plant.
Local Name:
Location: New Guinea
Adult height: Vine 10 meters
Taste: The fruits are aromatic, eaten raw or preserved. Leaves and roots are applied in traditional medicine against stomach-ache, abdominal pains, skin diseases
Local Name: Bush Banana
Location: Gabon
Adult height: Tree-Vine 4m
Taste: fruit has anti-malaria properties but is not the best and has antibiotic properties.
Local Name: Kuy Fruit in Cambodia and Gedraphol in Assam/India; in Malaysia sometimes called Kedal or Madu Udang.
Location: Native to Southeast Asia—from Northeast India through Myanmar to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia—growing in tropical lowland rainforests, often in wet habitats.
Vine Length: A massive evergreen liana that can grow up to 25–30 m long, with thick woody stems and latex-rich sap.
Taste: Produces yellowish–orange berries (around 5–6 cm in diameter) with a thin, soft, fuzzy rind and sweet, aromatic pulp reminiscent of a blend of mango, pineapple, and soursop.
Unique Characteristics: Highly prized by wild fruit enthusiasts and known as “orangutan fruit” in parts of Borneo and Palawan; it is rarely cultivated commercially.
Local Name: Kubal or Kubal Madu in Malaysia, and Tabo in the Philippines; sometimes nicknamed Borneo Wild Orange or Borneo Rubber Fruit.
Location: Native to Borneo (Malaysia, Brunei, Kalimantan) and Palawan, thriving in lush tropical rainforests with high rainfall and low altitudes.
Vine Length: A huge tropical liana climbing 20–30 m into the canopy, with thick, rope-like woody stems.
Taste: The round, grapefruit-sized fruit (10–15 cm in diameter) has a thin orange rind and soft white interior with concentrated, sweet, and richly tropical flavors reminiscent of mango, pineapple, and soursop.
Unique Characteristics: Notable for its extraordinary fragrance and flavor intensity, it exudes a milky latex and is extremely rare outside its native region.
Local Name: Malabar Spinach
Location: South & Southeast Asia
Medical Uses: High in vitamins A & C; supports skin and digestion.
Taste: Mild, slightly sweet, and mucilaginous.
Nice to know: Thrives in heat and humidity, unlike true spinach. Eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups, stews, and stir-fries. Berries are edible but mostly used for natural dyes (purple juice).
Local Name: Aji Dulce, Sweet Pepper
Location: Native to Central and South America; widely cultivated in the Caribbean, particularly Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic
Adult height: 0.5 to 1 meter
Taste: Sweet, smoky flavor with little to no heat; used in traditional Caribbean dishes such as sofrito;
Medical: Rich in vitamins A and C, along with other antioxidants; traditionally used to treat digestive issues and inflammation
Extra info: Prefers warm, humid climates with well-drained soil; typically harvested when green but can be left to mature to red, orange, or yellow; high yield variety
Local Name: Long Red Marconi
Location: Americas (Mexico, Central & South America)
Medical Uses: High in vitamin C and antioxidants; supports metabolism.
Taste: Ranges from sweet to mildly pungent.
Nice to know: Sweeter varieties have no heat.
Local Name: Ancho Pepper
Location: Americas (Mexico, Central & South America)
Medical Uses: Rich in vitamins A and C, supports digestion, anti-inflammatory properties.
Taste: Mildly smoky and sweet with a hint of heat.
Nice to know: When dried, it becomes the popular **Poblano chili** used in Mexican cuisine.
Local Name: Purple Beauty & Yola & Topepo Rosso
Location: Americas (Mexico, Central & South America)
Medical Uses: High in vitamin C and antioxidants; supports metabolism.
Taste: Ranges from sweet to mildly pungent. Topepo Rosso' is a sweet pepper from Italy. It's a very early variety that forms many nearly round, red, thick-walled fruits and indulges us with a gorgeous, rather sweet pepper taste.
Nice to know: Bell peppers come in multiple colors.
Local Name: Shishito Pepper
Location: Japan, East Asia
Medical Uses: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Taste: Mild with a hint of smokiness; occasional heat.
Nice to know: Approximately 1 in 10 shishito peppers can surprise you with a burst of heat.
Local Name: Cubanelle Pepper
Location: Cuba, Mediterranean, and the Americas
Medical Uses: Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
Taste: Mild, sweet, and slightly tangy.
Nice to know: Ideal for frying, stuffing, and enhancing flavor without intense heat.
Local Name: Jimmy Nardello Pepper
Location: Italy
Medical Uses: Loaded with vitamins and antioxidants.
Taste: Sweet and crunchy with a subtle, savory flavor.
Nice to know: A favorite in Italian cuisine for its vibrant color and mild taste.
Local Name: Padrón Pepper
Location: Padrón, Spain
Medical Uses: Contains capsaicin with metabolic benefits.
Taste: Mostly mild with occasional bursts of heat.
Nice to know: About 1 in 10 Padrón peppers are unexpectedly spicy.
Local Name: Chilaca Pepper
Location: Mexico
Medical Uses: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Taste: Earthy and smoky with mild to moderate heat.
Nice to know: When dried, chilaca peppers are known as anchos—a staple in Mexican cuisine.
Local Name: Habanero Pepper (variety)
Location: Amazon Basin, Caribbean, Central America
Medical Uses: Capsaicin for pain relief and metabolism.
Taste: Fruity, citrusy, very hot.
Nice to know: Habaneros can reach 350,000 Scoville units.
Local Name: West Indian Gherkin - Gooseberry Cucumber
Location: Native to Africa, widely grown in the Americas and tropical regions
Medical Uses: Aids digestion, anti-inflammatory, hydrating, supports kidney health.
Taste: Eaten raw in salads. Crisp, mildly tangy, similar to cucumber. Cooked as a leafy green vegetable in some traditional dishes. Seeds are also edible.
Nice to know: Highly resistant to pests and diseases; often used in pickling and traditional medicine for its cooling effects.
Local Name: Stuffing Cucumber, Caigua, Achocha
Location: Andes region (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador)
Medical Uses: Believed to help lower cholesterol and manage blood pressure.
Taste: Mild, cucumber-like with a slightly tangy note. Eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups and stews. Hollowed out and stuffed. the leafy greens are cooked in stews or stir-fried.
Nice to know: Often stuffed and baked like peppers; popular in Andean cuisine.
Local Name: Cucamelon, Mexican Sour Gherkin, or Mouse Melon (in Spanish: sandía ratón or pepquino)
Location: Native to Central America—from Mexico to Venezuela—thriving in warm climates and cultivated as a novelty vegetable.
Vine Length: A delicate annual vine growing about 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft) high, with thin, twining tendrils.
Taste: The grape-sized green fruits resemble mini watermelons, offering a crisp, cucumber-like flavor with a hint of citrus sourness.
Unique Characteristics: Valued for its bite-sized, crunchy texture and cute appearance, making it popular with gardeners and in salads or pickling.
Local Name: Canario el Plebeyo Beans, Peruvian Beans
Location: Native to Central and South America; widely cultivated in Peru, Mexico, and the United States
Adult height: Bush varieties: 20–60 cm; Pole varieties: 2–3 meters
Taste: Mild, buttery flavor with a creamy texture; commonly used in Latin American cuisines for stews, soups, and refried beans;
Medical: Rich in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals; exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties; consumption linked to improved heart health and digestion
Extra info: Prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5; requires full sun; sensitive to frost; benefits from crop rotation to prevent soil depletion
Local Name: Sacha Inchi (Quechua for “Inca peanut”), also called Inca Peanut or Mountain Peanut; in Peru, it is known as Maní del Inca.
Location: Native to the Amazon Rainforest (eastern Peru and neighboring areas) and now cultivated in places like Peru and Thailand; it prefers hot, humid lowland conditions.
Vine Length: A semi-woody, twining vine that typically grows 2–3 m in length; fast–growing and sprawling on trellises.
Taste: Its star-shaped green pods contain oily seeds that, when roasted, offer a pleasantly nutty flavor reminiscent of peanuts or almonds.
Unique Characteristics: Extremely rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and protein, it has gained recognition as a “superfood” and is increasingly cultivated for its nutritional benefits.
Local Name: Winged Bean
Location: Southeast Asia
Medical Uses: High in protein; supports bone and immune health.
Taste: Slightly sweet, nutty, similar to green beans.
Nice to know: Entire plant is edible. The tubers (roots) are also edible and can be cooked like potatoes. The leaves are eaten as leafy greens.
Local Name: Garden Egg, Nakati, etc.
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
Medical Uses: Source of vitamins; used in traditional African cuisines.
Taste: Fruit can be bitter or mild depending on ripeness. The leaves of Solanum aethiopicum are eaten as a leaf vegetable and are actually more nutritious than the fruit.
Nice to know: Popular in West and East African stews. The highly variable fruit of the plant is eaten both raw and cooked and is becoming more popular as a cultivated crop. These fruits are usually harvested while still green, before the skin becomes thick.
Local Name: Forest Bitterberry, African Eggplant
Location: Native to tropical and southern Africa, including countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda; also found in Madagascar and the Comoros
Adult height: 1.5–4 meters
Taste: The small, spherical fruits are bitter when unripe but become less so upon ripening; commonly used in stews and sauces;
Medical: Exhibits antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties; traditionally used to treat ailments like diabetes and infections
Extra info: Thrives in a variety of habitats, including disturbed areas and cultivated fields; often considered a semi-cultivated vegetable in parts of Africa
Local Name: Cherokee Purple
Location: Heirloom from the United States
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, vitamins A & C; beneficial for heart health.
Taste: Rich, sweet, with an earthy depth.
Nice to know: Famous for its dark purplish color.
Local Name: Mortgage Lifter
Location: Bred in West Virginia (USA)
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, vitamins A & C; beneficial for heart health.
Taste: Sweet, classic tomato flavor.
Nice to know: Named after a farmer who paid off his mortgage by selling seedlings.
Local Name: Pineapple Tomato
Location: Cultivated in tropical regions (e.g., Southeast Asia)
Medical Uses: Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and aids digestion.
Taste: A refreshing fusion of tangy tomato and sweet pineapple flavors.
Nice to know: An innovative variety that combines tropical fruitiness with the classic tomato profile.
Local Name: Sleeping Lady Dwarf
Location: Developed as part of the Dwarf Tomato Project
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, vitamins A & C; beneficial for heart health.
Taste: Full, balanced tomato flavor.
Nice to know: Compact and ideal for container gardening.
Local Name: Solar Fire
Location: Developed in Florida (USA) for heat tolerance
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, vitamins A & C; beneficial for heart health.
Taste: Juicy, slightly tangy.
Nice to know: Performs well in high temperatures.
Local Name: Yellow Pear
Location: Heirloom from Europe
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, vitamins A & C; beneficial for heart health.
Taste: Mild, sweet, with low acidity.
Nice to know: Pear-shaped mini tomatoes, great in salads.
Local Name: Brinjal, Aubergine
Location: Native to the Indian subcontinent
Medical Uses: High in fiber and antioxidants; may aid cholesterol control.
Taste: Mild, spongy, absorbs flavors well.
Nice to know: Comes in various cultivars (purple, white, striped).
Local Name: Pepino, Pepino Dulce
Location: Andean region of South America
Medical Uses: Good source of vitamin C; hydrating.
Taste: Sweet, melon-like with a hint of cucumber.
Nice to know: Pale yellow fruit with purple stripes; versatile in salads.
Local Name: Currant Tomato
Location: Peru & Ecuador
Medical Uses: High in antioxidants, especially lycopene.
Taste: Intensely sweet and tangy with tiny fruits.
Nice to know: Often used in breeding for disease resistance.
Local Name: Cocona, Cubiu
Location: Native to the Amazon Basin, particularly in Peru, Brazil, and Colombia
Adult height: 1–2 meters
Taste: The fruit has a tart, citrus-like flavor; consumed fresh, in juices, jams, or cooked in savory dishes;
Medical: Exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties; traditionally used to treat high blood pressure, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and improve overall wellness
Extra info: Prefers warm, humid climates with well-drained soils; sensitive to drought and frost; fruits ripen to colors ranging from yellow to red; rich in vitamins and minerals
Local Name: Purple Mart Meter Bean, Yardlong Bean, Asparagus Bean
Location: Native to Southeast Asia; widely cultivated in Asia, Africa, and warmer regions worldwide
Adult height: Vines can reach up to 3 meters in length
Taste: The long, slender pods have a mild, slightly sweet flavor; consumed fresh, stir-fried, or in soups and stews;
Medical: Seeds contain lectins and peptides with antimicrobial, anti-HIV, anticancer, and mitogenic activities; exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties
Extra info: Prefers warm, humid climates; requires staking or trellising for support; sensitive to cold temperatures; flowers are attractive to pollinators
Local Name: Okra
Location: West Africa and South Asia
Medical Uses: Aids digestion, regulates blood sugar, rich in antioxidants.
Taste: Mild, slightly grassy; cooked pods can be mucilaginous.
Nice to know: Harvest young pods to avoid toughness. Young leaves are edible and can be cooked like spinach or used in soups. Seeds can be roasted and ground into a coffee substitute or pressed for okra oil, which is rich in unsaturated fats.
Local Name: Osekaseka - White-Violet Aframomum
Location: Tropical Africa
Medical Uses: Used for digestive issues and as an aphrodisiac.
Taste: Seeds are peppery; fruit is sweet. Both edible.
Nice to know: Sometimes used as a natural stimulant; seeds can substitute black pepper.
Local Name: Wild Ginger - Narrow-Leaf Aframomum
Location: Central Africa
Medical Uses: Traditionally used for stomach ailments and inflammation.
Taste: Warm, spicy, slightly sweet. Both seeds and fruit are edible.
Nice to know: Its seeds can be used similarly to pepper.
Local Name: Sugarloaf & Queen Pineapple
Location: South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina)
Medical Uses: Contains bromelain (aids digestion, reduces inflammation).
Taste: Sweet, tangy, juicy.
Nice to know: Takes 18–24 months to mature; grows from a central rosette. Requires cross-pollination
Local Name: Lemon Myrtle
Location: Eastern Australia (Queensland & New South Wales)
Height: 8m
Medical Uses: Antimicrobial, antifungal, digestive support.
Taste: Strong lemon aroma and flavor.
Nice to know: Highest natural source of citral; popular in teas and desserts. Flowers are sometimes used to infuse syrups or drinks.
Local Name: Ethiopian Kale, Chomolia, African Kale
Location: Eastern and Southern Africa
Medical Uses: Rich in vitamins A, C, and K; supports immune and bone health.
Taste: Mildly bitter, similar to collard greens.
Nice to know: A drought-resistant leafy green, traditionally eaten in Africa and used for biodiesel production.
Local Name: Katuk or Star Gooseberry
Location: Southeast Asia
Medical Uses: Traditionally used to enhance lactation.
Taste: Mild, slightly nutty.
Nice to know: High in protein; leaves are used in soups and stir-fries. Do not eat raw.
Local Name: Pigeon Pea / Bahamian Red, Kajala, Flavus
Location: Africa, India (now grown worldwide in tropics)
Medical Uses: Anti-inflammatory; high in protein.
Taste: Nutty, earthy, slightly sweet when cooked.
Nice to know: Drought-resistant; improves soil fertility.
Fresh beans: Used like green peas in soups, stews, and curries. Dried beans: Cooked like lentils or beans, often used in dal, porridges, and side dishes.
Local Name: Ceylon Cinnamon, True Cinnamon
Location: Native to Sri Lanka; cultivated in tropical regions worldwide
Adult height: Up to 10–15 meters
Taste: The inner bark is harvested and dried to produce cinnamon spice, known for its sweet, mild flavor with a light citrus note; used in both sweet and savory dishes;
Medical: Exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties; traditionally used to support digestive health, regulate blood sugar levels, and improve cardiovascular health
Extra info: Prefers warm, wet climates; young trees benefit from afternoon shade, while mature trees can tolerate full sun; the tree produces small, greenish flowers and purple drupes; leaves are glossy and release a mild cinnamon scent when crushed
Local Name: Watermelon - Charleston Gray
Location: Northeast Africa (Sudan-Egypt region), widely cultivated worldwide
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, hydrating, vitamin C.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, refreshing.
Nice to know: Known for its elongated shape and pale green rind. Seeds can be roasted and eaten as a snack.
Local Name: Watermelon (general)
Location: Northeast Africa (Sudan-Egypt region), widely cultivated worldwide
Medical Uses: High in lycopene, hydrating, vitamin C.
Taste: Sweet, juicy, refreshing.
Nice to know: Elongated shape with pale green rind.
Local Name: Hawaiian Taro
Location: South & Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands
Medical Uses: Rich in fiber and vitamins; supports digestion.
Taste: Never eat taro raw! Mildly nutty, slightly sweet when cooked.
Nice to know: Must be cooked to remove calcium oxalate crystals; widely used in Polynesian cuisine. Processed into taro flour for baking. The leaves can be cooked like spinach in soups, stews, and vegetable dishes. Must be boiled properly to remove oxalates, which can cause throat irritation.
Uses: Peel carefully and boil until tender.
Frying: Slice into chips or wedges and fry until golden.
Baking: Toss with oil and bake until tender and crisp.
Local Name: Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Muskmelon, Galia, etc.
Location: Possibly Africa or Southwest Asia
Medical Uses: Hydrating and rich in electrolytes; source of vitamins A & C.
Taste: Typically sweet, watery, melon-like.
Nice to know: One of the earliest domesticated fruits. Seeds can be roasted and eaten as a snack.
Local Name: Queensland blue Pumpkin
Location: Origin likely in South America (Andes region)
Medical Uses: High in beta-carotene, vitamins, and fiber.
Taste: Mildly sweet and starchy. Boiled, roasted, steamed, or mashed for soups, stews, or purees.
Used in baking (bread, cakes, pies), porridges, and curries. Seeds are eaten raw, roasted, or ground into flour.
Used in snacks, salads, or pressed for oil. Flowers are eaten fresh, fried, or stuffed in some cuisines.
Local Name: Butternut or Musquee-type Squash
Location: Mesoamerica (Central America/Mexico)
Medical Uses: Rich in beta-carotene, fiber, and potassium.
Taste: Sweet, nutty, with a smooth texture when cooked. Boiled, roasted, steamed, or mashed for soups, stews, purees, and baked dishes. Seeds are roasted for in salads.
Nice to know: Often used in soups and roasts.
Local Name: Maple Chaya, Tree Spinach
Location: Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Medical Uses: Rich in protein, vitamins A & C, iron, and calcium.
Taste: Must be cooked before eating – Chaya leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides, which can release toxins if eaten raw. Cooking destroys these compounds. Mild, spinach-like but must be cooked to remove toxins.
Nice to know: Requires gloves for harvesting; raw leaves are toxic unless boiled for ~20 minutes.
Local Name: Lemongrass
Location: Native to Asia, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions
Medical Uses: Antibacterial, aids digestion, relieves stress, supports immune function.
Taste: Citrusy, slightly sweet, with a hint of ginger.
Nice to know: Used in teas, soups, and essential oils; also a **natural mosquito repellent**.
Local Name: Kuroda Carrot
Location: Originally from Persia (modern-day Iran/Afghanistan)
Medical Uses: High in beta-carotene and fiber; beneficial for eyesight.
Taste: Sweet, with an earthy crunch.
Nice to know: Orange carrots were standardized in the Netherlands; older varieties come in other colors.
Local Name: Epazote, Mexican Tea
Location: Central & South America, adaptable to tropical regions
Medical Uses: Aids digestion, reduces bloating, used as a natural dewormer, antifungal properties.
Taste: Use in moderation – Contains ascaridole, which can be toxic in high doses. Herb for flavoring beans, stews, tamales, and soups. Pungent, slightly medicinal, with hints of oregano and mint. Tea can be made from it as well.
Nice to know: Traditionally used in bean dishes to reduce gas; should be consumed in moderation due to strong compounds. Best ingredient for
Tamales
Local Name: Rucola, Arugula, Rocket
Location: Mediterranean region
Medical Uses: High in vitamin K and calcium; supports bone health.
Taste: Peppery and slightly bitter.
Nice to know: A popular salad green historically used as a medicinal herb.
Local Name: Eru, African Wild Spinach, Okok
Location: Native to Central and West Africa, thrives in tropical rainforests
Medical Uses: High in protein and iron, supports digestion, improves heart health, boosts immunity.
Taste: Eaten raw or cooked in soups, stews, and sauces. Earthy, slightly bitter, with a firm texture when cooked.
Nice to know: A staple in African cuisine, especially in **Cameroon and Nigeria**, often used in soups and stews.
Local Name: Okinawa Spinach
Location: East & Southeast Asia (China, Japan)
Medical Uses: Rich in antioxidants; supports healthy blood pressure.
Taste: Mild, spinach-like with slight sweetness.
Nice to know: Leaves have striking purple undersides; commonly used in stir-fries and soups.
Local Name: Longevity Spinach
Location: Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand)
Medical Uses: Traditionally used to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol.
Taste: Mild, slightly bland; can be eaten raw or cooked.
Nice to know: A popular home remedy for overall wellness.
Local Name: Roselle
Location: Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, including Gabon
Adult height: 1–3m (shrub)
Nice to know: Celebrated for its large, colorful blooms and its use in traditional teas, the hibiscus is also a great barrier for sound next to streets.
Use: Both ornamental and culinary, particularly in the making of Roselle tea.
Local Name: Tropicana Lettuce
Location: Mediterranean origins; heat-tolerant cultivar
Medical Uses: Low-calorie; provides fiber and vitamins K & A.
Taste: Mild, crisp, slightly sweet. Normally eaten raw.
Nice to know: Selected for performance in warm climates.
Local Name: Moringa (Drumstick Tree)
Location: Native to Northwest India
Medical Uses: Extremely nutritious; rich in vitamins A, C, protein, and iron.
Taste: Leaves are earthy/spicy, eaten raw or cooked; pods taste like mild green beans. Pods (Drumsticks) – Cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Nice to know: Known as the “Miracle Tree” for fast growth and high nutrient content. Seeds – Can be eaten raw, roasted, or used to extract oil. Flowers – Used in salads or as a tea ingredient.
Local Name: Penang Lemon Basil, Lemon Basil
Location: Native to Africa and South Asia; widely cultivated in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand
Adult height: 0.3 to 0.45 meters
Taste: Leaves have a refreshing lemon scent and flavor; commonly used in salads, soups, curries, and as a garnish;
Medical: Exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties; traditionally used to treat digestive issues and respiratory conditions
Extra info: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil; attracts bees and butterflies; leaves are best harvested before flowering to maintain flavor
Local Name: Allspice
Location: Caribbean, Central & South America
Height: ~15m
Medical Uses: Antibacterial, antifungal, promotes digestion, relieves muscle pain.
Deodorant Properties: Natural **odor neutralizer**; essential oil used in **homemade deodorants** and **antiseptic washes**.
Taste: Warm, spicy mix of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.
Nice to know: Allspice is one of the most important ingredients of Jamaican cuisine. Leaves, berries, and essential oil have strong **antimicrobial** properties, making them useful in **personal care and preservation**.
Local Name: Hoja Santa, Mexican Pepperleaf
Location: Mexico & Central America
Medical Uses: Used for digestive issues and as a mild stimulant.
Taste: The leaves are edible and used as an herb in cooking, often for wrapping foods or flavoring dishes. Anise-like with notes of sassafras.
Nice to know: A staple herb in Oaxacan cuisine.
Local Name: Waterleaf
Location: Native to West Africa and South America, thrives in tropical regions
Medical Uses: High in vitamins A and C, supports digestion, boosts immunity, aids in wound healing and heals the measles and helps with diabetes.
Taste: Mild, slightly tangy, raw in salads and with a soft texture when cooked. They should not be overcooked or they will become excessively soft and mucilaginous
Nice to know: The leaves and young shoots are eaten as a vegetable in soups or used in salads. They are rich in vitamins and minerals. In some regions, the plant is also used medicinally. It is somewhat drought-tolerant due to its fleshy leaves but will grow slower and produce fewer tender leaves if not watered regularly.
Local Name: Aidan fruit or Prekese
Location: West & Central Africa
Height: 25m
Medical Uses: The beans are used in folk medicine for diabetes, hypertension, and postpartum healing. Cure for schistosomiasis.
Taste: Aromatic, slightly sweet; used to flavor soups such as Banga.
Nice to know: Dried pods are a popular spice in West African cuisine.
Local Name: Society Garlic
Location: Africa (Native to Southern Africa, adaptable to tropical regions)
Medical Uses: Antibacterial, antifungal, supports digestion, helps regulate blood pressure.
Taste: Mild garlic flavor in leaves and flowers; roots are stronger and more pungent.
Nice to know: Naturally repels pests and is deer-resistant; often used in companion planting. Tulbaghia violacea stores water and nutrients in its underground bulb, allowing it to withstand prolonged dry conditions.
Local Name: Turmeric
Location: South Asia (Native), widely grown in tropical regions
Medical Uses: Powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, supports digestion, boosts immunity.
Taste: Earthy, warm, slightly bitter with a mild peppery undertone.
Nice to know: Used both as a spice and a natural dye; active compound **curcumin** has strong medicinal properties. When exposed to dry conditions, turmeric enters dormancy, shedding its leaves while the rhizome remains underground. The leaves are also edible, be it a bit fibery.
Local Name: Tiger Nut, Yellow Nutsedge
Location: Native to Africa, Southern and Central Europe, and the Middle East; widely naturalized in many regions
Adult height: Up to 0.9 meters
Taste: Edible tubers have a sweet, nutty flavor; consumed raw, roasted, dried, or as a beverage (e.g., horchata);
Medical: Tubers are rich in fiber, vitamins C and E, and minerals like potassium and phosphorus; traditionally used to treat flatulence, indigestion, colic, diarrhea, dysentery, debility, and excessive thirst; exhibit antioxidant and antidiabetic properties; considered aphrodisiac, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, stimulant, and tonic
Extra info: Tubers are also used to produce oil and flour; plants can become invasive in cultivated fields; require well-drained soils and can tolerate drought conditions
Local Name: Ginger
Location: Native to South Asia, widely cultivated in tropical regions worldwide
Medical Uses: Anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, relieves nausea, boosts immunity, supports circulation.
Taste: Warm, spicy, slightly sweet with citrus-like undertones.
Nice to know: Used fresh, dried, or as an extract in both culinary and medicinal applications; key ingredient in traditional herbal remedies. Can survive a 3 month dry season.
