November 24, 2021
In
Good morning little hummingbird,
Two weeks ago, I took you to our beautiful tropical gardens and made you discover (or rediscover) our luscious and juicy forgotten fruits. Today, I'm sure you've already guessed it, we're going to talk about vegetables!
In our Creole gardens, more and more vegetables are gradually being brought back into fashion. Due to or due to Covid, which was also preceded by a strong wave of "eating better", the trend is towards (re)discovering local products. Consuming what you grow is therefore becoming a necessity for many people, including city dwellers.
Today I will tell you about five vegetables that have been lost from sight but are still very present: watercress, Jerusalem artichoke, massissi, cassava and “coco-milé”.
Watercress is not really a vegetable but rather a plant, although some specialists refer to it as a "leaf vegetable". Used for thousands of years, its virtues are no longer to be proven: tonic, antianemic, diuretic, expectorant, aperitif, stomachic, vermifuge, depurative, sudorific, hypoglycemic... Needless to say, the list is long. In addition, it has a low calorie level combined with many nutrients. It is a source of vitamins A, K and C, it contains potassium, calcium and phosphorus. It contains significant amounts of fiber and above all it is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent the appearance of cancers and improve visual health.
The Jerusalem artichoke is an old vegetable that we first find traces of among our Native American ancestors before the Europeans landed on the continent. Since then, it has been renamed the Canadian truffle, Jerusalem artichoke or even perennial sun. It is a root vegetable that can reach up to 3 meters in height and whose tuber, which strongly resembles ginger, is eaten. For the record, this vegetable cultivated by the Native Americans was introduced to the Old Continent by French explorers, it was a real success because of its ease of exploitation, especially on poor soils, before being dethroned by the potato. It was then assimilated to a product to feed livestock or suitable for war. Today, the Jerusalem artichoke is gradually regaining its splendor to the point of even being present on the menu of some restaurants.
The massissi or West Indian cucumber is obviously native to... South West Africa! Yes, contrary to its nickname, this vegetable from a climbing plant was introduced during the period of slavery, particularly from Angola. Given the large number of unknown varieties of the same species, other sources seem to support the fact that the origin of this vegetable is in tropical areas of America. Its consumption is quite varied, it is prepared raw with vinaigrette, steamed or fried. With its refreshing properties, the massissi was once used in traditional medicine to treat stomach ailments. Elsewhere, it is said to have other properties such as a pesticide in Zimbabwe, against kidney problems in Colombia or to treat hemorrhoids with its leaves in Cuba.
Cassava is certainly an off-topic in our selection of forgotten vegetables. Because this vegetable is none other than the fifth most consumed plant in the world today, after rice, wheat, corn and potatoes. This tuber native to South America is known to be consumed in flour or cassava (yes, yes, like the famous international music group "Kassav'" who was inspired by it for its name), it is also consumed in pieces cooked in water. That being said, many preparations have been forgotten, hence its presence in our selection. Indeed, whether bitter or sweet depending on the variety, cassava is found on plates around the world in sticks, fries, mash, couscous, gratin, cake, muffin, flan and even ice cream. By the way, in certain regions of Africa, cassava leaves are also consumed in a succulent preparation. In addition, it should not be forgotten that cassava contains substances that can turn into cyanide. Very dangerous for humans, it can cause very violent poisoning or even death in some rarer cases. It is therefore advisable to handle it under the advice of a person familiar with this tuber. In addition, the benefits of cassava are very multiple: rich in carbohydrates, gluten-free, very digestible, satiating as well as a very good content of magnesium, potassium and Vitamin C. Suffice to say that this tuber is an excellent alternative to traditional cereals.
Finally, let's talk about the "coco-milé". My little hummingbird, do you know the "coco-milé" or "koko-milé"? If not, it is also called "koko-bourik", adon, masako, pomme-en-l'air, pomme Edward, yam bulbifere or even hoffe. If you still don't have it then here are some explanations. The "coco-milé" is a variety of aerial yam. About the size of a potato, it is found on a climbing vine from a tuber. The plant grows and proliferates from the moment it finds a support on which it can wrap itself and can reach up to 12 meters long. Once the vine has dried out, the "coco-milé" comes off by itself and falls. This is the signal to know that it is ripe and ready to cook. While there are no traces of the use of this vegetable for medicinal purposes in the Antilles-Guyana or Reunion, the same is not true for Madagascar, where the dried pulp is used to heal wounds, injuries or boils. In India, "coco-milé" is used to treat ulcers, hemorrhoids, syphilis and dysentery. The leaves are used to treat eye problems.
Here you go! 😄
This makes for information and fruits and vegetables with various virtues. Between anti-diabetes, antioxidants or "performance enhancers", there is no doubt that our pharmacopoeia is extraordinary. It would be a shame to lose all these riches through simple forgetfulness or as a consequence of globalization... So whether it is the Native American legend presented in the article on thePeyi Vert association or through the famous quote from Frantz Fanon, "Each generation must in relative opacity discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it", my little hummingbird, it's your turn again!
Lina
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