Black rhinos, elephant and kudu to name a few. berries It’s mulberry season. 1. Besides being edible (and high in Vitamin C), the medium-sized shrub found predominantly in the Eastern Cape is resilient and an important ‘weapon’ in the fight against climate change. Spekboom is ten times more effective than the Amazon rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Baobab (Aka Bottle Tree, Upside-down Tree) Adansonia. They are also used in traditional medicine to treat dehydration and heat stroke. The elephants love spekboom on Shamwari Private Game Reserve – book your visit to see them delve in. The leaves of the Spekboom tree is edible and very high in Vitamin C, which adds to the well-balanced lemon-citrus heart of this perfect pouring Gin. Spekboom also helps to fight dehydration, making this magical plant perfect for hot summer weddings. This shrub is packed with Vitamin C and the succulent leaves are pro photosynthesisers. Spekboom Spekboom also goes by the names Pork Bush or Elephant’s Food and is great at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It is edible, with high levels of vitamin C; It can live for up to 200 years; Adaptable and therefore easy to grow; Can be grown into hedges; Like most succulents, it is really good at cleaning carbon dioxide out the air, which is why this humble little plant has suddenly got so much attention ; Spekboom flowers are beautiful; Photo credit of flowering spekboom to My Boozy Kitchen. It is High in Basic Nutrients This plant is edible and high in nutrients, especially Vitamin C, and a perfect addition to a … Spekboom can, however, be used for more than it’s carbon emission talents. Spekboom forests can serve as grazing and browsing areas of last resort for wildlife and livestock, even when all else has withered in a drought. Packed with vitamin C and other nutrients, spekboom leaves are juicy and full of moisture. 1. Sep 21, 2019 - Spekboom is South Africa's endemic wonder plant. Janet says: August 1, 2017 at 9:41 am Thank you so much for this. This changes slightly though when it’s cooked. One of the most iconic trees in South Africa is the Baobab tree. Well first things first, it has edible leaves, jam-packed with Vitamin C. Some high-end restaurants in the Mother City (Cape Town) has even included this unique delicatessen to their menus. Per a comment in McCarthy's article, in Tucson, Arizona "[the collared peccary (aka javelina or musk hog, Pecari tajacu )] love, love, love to munch on [widely used landscaping] elephant food. December 13th, 2019 . As the scale of the climate change crisis has hit home, the world has been looking for solutions. I have been hunting for something like this. Also known as pork or elephant bush, spekboom is a nutritious eco-warrior packed with vitamin C and basic nutrients such as magnesium and manganese and was traditionally used to treat exhaustion and dehydration. It’s edible and high in Vitamin C. This drought-resistant plant can survive on just 250-350mm of water a year. 2. This hardy succulent is easy to … The leaves are actually and packed with vitamin C. The acidy taste is makes them a fun addition to a summer salad or in a winter stew. The sap from the leaves can also be used to treat skin ailments and provide relief for blisters and sunburn. Comments. Though spekboom may sound like something Ant and Dec would have rapped about in the 90s, it’s actually an African tree, which Nic describes as a “wonder plant” because “it can remove 4.2 tonnes of CO2 per year, is edible and very high in Vitamin C.” Tidbit: The leaves are chewed by Mozambique women during nursing when they want to encourage milk production. Besides being edible (and high in Vitamin C), the medium-sized shrub found predominantly in the Eastern Cape is resilient and an important ‘weapon’ in the fight against climate change. Besides being edible (and high in Vitamin C), the medium-sized shrub found predominantly in … The leaves are plump and juicy with a rather tangy, lemony tart taste. Spekboom can, however, be used for more than it’s carbon emission talents. Spekboom, also known as pork bush or elephant’s food, is our own indigenous wonder plant. Why the hype? NEXT STORY > Related Stories. To be specific, our oxygen garden consists of cuttings from the very humble and way under-rated Spekboom. Also known as Pork or Elephant bush, spekboom is a nutritious eco-warrior packed with Vitamin C and basic nutrients such as magnesium and manganese and was traditionally used to treat exhaustion and dehydration. One hectare of Spekboom can remove 4.2 tonnes of CO2 per year. Spekboom. Step 2: Take a stem cutting approximately 10 - 50 cm in length with a clean sharp knife or secateurs. This bush is also known as porkbush and its high in vitamin C. Here are ways in which you can use this miracle plant for your own benefits: ... Each hectare planted can remove over 4 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year. PREVIOUS STORY. It is quite fabulous! Credit: Stork.co.za. Jul 28, 2020 - Gourmet Guide magazine is a seasonal online feast filled with captivating information, restaurants, chefs and plenty of ravishing recipes. They leave an acidic taste of lemon on the tongue, making spekboom an excellent addition to fresh salads or even in the wedding cake itself. It also contains high amounts of Vitamin C – making it a great flu-fighter. Contact Us. One hectare of Spekboom can remove 4.2 tonnes of CO2 per year. Anton Roux A Life Less Ordinary. They have a delicious sour or tart flavour. Indigenous to the Eastern Cape, it can grow anywhere where it gets sun. Smith (1966) there are two strains of the plant, the sour spekboom and the sweet spekboom, the latter practically eaten out of existence by all stock and wild antelope." Popular restaurants have even added the leaves to dishes like stews, salads, preserves or as a garnish. It’s packed with Vitamin C. It makes for good animal fodder, but you’ve got to keep domestic animals off it because they damage the microclimate surrounding the plants. Spekboom can be used in salads, preserves and chutneys and as an ingredient in traditional South African tomato bredie. Book Your Shamwari Stay. Also known as pork or elephant bush, spekboom is a nutritious eco-warrior packed with vitamin C and basic nutrients such as magnesium and manganese and was traditionally used to treat exhaustion and dehydration. Great for: Adding to pâtés and spreads. If you’re looking for a versatile plant that can be turned into a hedge, a bonsai, used as ground cover or perhaps a large bush, spekboom is the plant for you. And, it contains micro-elements, iodine and selenium, which act … Spekboom is native to the Eastern Cape and in the past they were known for their rich vitamin C content which made them quite nutritious. Add some to your salads! Let’s go back to that marvellous spekboom, with its tiny plump fleshy leaves. ... SPEKBOOM: Step 1: Find a healthy plant to take a cutting from. Spekboom, also known as pork bush or elephant’s food, is our own indigenous wonder plant. Spekboom – Portulacaria afra; Spekboom – Portulacaria afraPortulacaria afra "According to C.A. The plant can grow up to between 2 and 5 metres tall, is edible and high in Vitamin C. The Spekboom is very resilient and can survive frost, drought, and fire. Life Green Group joins the #SpekboomChallenge . This hardy succulent is easy to grow, waterwise and requires little maintenance. This plant is a super plant as it is edible, of course that is why I put it in the stew, healthy – it contains vitamin C – the taste is a bit sour and goes well with tomatoes, and it very good for the environment and the atmosphere. Did you know that certain wild animals absolutely LOVE spekboom? Grow Your Own. The spekboom is extremely high in vitamin-C and can be consumed by humans, (a sprig of lemony-tasting spekboom in a gin and tonic is rather delightful). Spekboom is high in nutritional value, with a subtle lemony taste and a notable Vitamin C content. Besides being edible (and high in Vitamin C), the medium-sized shrub found predominantly in the Eastern Cape, is resilient and an important ‘weapon’ in the fight against climate change. Spekboom is ten times more effective than the Amazon rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Another great benefit is that you don’t need a green finger to grow the Spekboom tree. • The leaves of the Spekboom are high in Vitamin C and can be eaten. It grows best in a sunny, sandy area but can grow in shady areas as well. The leaves are edible with a pleasant, acidy taste that can be used in salads and are high in Vitamin C. Small star-shaped pink flowers are borne en masse from late winter to spring although flowering in cultivation is often erratic. The leaves are fully edible, slightly tart tasting, and packed with Vitamin C. Our Babel restaurant chefs love to use it in salads, stews, preserves and as garnish. This carbon sponge can sequester more than 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year per hectare planted, making it … Spekboom, also known as pork bush or elephant’s food, is our own indigenous wonder plant. It is edible to humans too, packed with Vitamin C and with a relatively tart flavour. The leaves of the Spekboom tree is edible and very high in Vitamin C, which adds to the well-balanced lemon-citrus heart of this perfect pouring Gin. Some humans also eat the leaves which are soft and slightly tart – and full of vitamin C! Step 3: Remove any leaves from the bottom third of the cutting. Research has shown that spekboom, as part of its indigenous ecosystems and in the … The leaves are fully edible, slightly tart tasting, and packed with Vitamin C. Our Babel restaurant chefs love to use it in salads, stews, preserves and as garnish. Spekboom, also called elephant bush, is an incredible succulent plant found in South Africa. It is also a source of water in the bush and can be used to soothe sunburn. It is packed full of vitamin C, as well as, manganese, magnesium and cobalt. This hardy succulent is easy to grow, waterwise and requires little maintenance. Spekboom, also known as Pork Bush or Elephant’s food, is South Africa’s own indigenous wonder plant. 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