Kana Chaya | คะน้าชายา| Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
Family: Euphorbiaceae - Genus: Cnidoscolus
A number of Chaya trees can be found alongside the road in front of TCDF's Special School.
Chaya, commonly known as “tree spinach”, is a perennial shrub and an excellent source of vitamins, fiber, proteins and enzymes. It is a year-round source of high-quality food and is said to be one of the most important edible-leaved plants in the tropics.
Tree spinach grows around 3 meters tall, with a thick main stem up to 10 cm. in diameter.
It can be cut and kept at a height of around 1-2 meters for easy harvesting.
Chaya leaves can be harvested continuously. Chaya is one of the most productive green vegetables.
THE PLANT
Chaya, an important perennial vegetable, is a vigorous and attractive large leafy shrub, particularly tolerant of poor growing conditions.
Tree spinach grows around 3 meters tall, with a thick main stem up to 10 cm. in diameter. It can be cut and kept at a height of around 1-2 meters for easy harvesting.
THE LEAVES
Young Chaya leaves and the thick, tender stem tips are cut and boiled as a spinach.
THE FLOWERS
Small, white; male and female flowers are borne at the end of long flower stems.
Chaya blooms frequently, and both male and female flowers are borne together at the end of long flower stems. Both kinds of flowers are small, less than 10 mm long.
he male flowers are much more abundant.
SEED PODS
None edible.
Seed pods are about 1-inch wide, and the size of walnuts.
CULINARY USES
It is a popular leaf vegetable, similar to spinach. The leaves should be cooked before being eaten, as the raw leaves contain a high content of toxic hydrocyanic acid. To be safely eaten, the required cooking time is 5–15 minutes.
In Thailand, young chaya leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten with nam prik. Click on the Food Forest Kitchen Link for the recipe of the spicy dip.
NUTRITION
Chaya is a good source of protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron; and is also a rich source of antioxidants.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Blood system applications, digestive system applications, sensory applications, immune system applications, respiratory applications, muscular/skeletal applications.
Usually cooked leaves are eaten. Teas or infusions are made from the leaves.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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