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Kana | Chinese broccoli

Pak Kana | ผักคะน้า | Brassica oleracea var.

Family: Brassicaceae - Genus: Brassica alboglabra

Go to the vegetable gardens of the Thai Child Development Foundation and you will see the beds with the 'Kana' the Thai Kale plant there.

 

In Thailand, the vegetable known as Pak Kana (and translated to Kale) is not the same as the Kale we know in the Western world. In English, it is commonly referred to as Chinese Broccoli, It is very similar to Kale. Kana is a delicious dark green, leafy vegetable found in Thailand and used in many Asia cuisines.


A dark green vegetable with strong, thin, long round trunks, soft, deep green delicate leaves, and sometimes tiny white flowers.


Plants take about 3 months from sowing to their first harvest. The whole plant can be harvested.


 

The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 meter tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is usually scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. All parts of the plant contain latex.
PLANT

THE PLANT


A dark green vegetable with strong, thin, long round trunks, soft, deep green delicate leaves, and sometimes tiny white flowers.






 

The leaves of the papaya are large, 50-70 cm in diameter, with seven lobes.
LEAVES

THE LEAVES

A dark green vegetable with strong, thin, long round trunks, soft, deep green delicate leaves, and sometimes tiny white flowers.





 


The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
FLOWER

THE FLOWERS

Each flower is four-petalled and resembles the shape of a crucifix

Young flowering shoot and small leaves- can be eaten raw or cooked.









 

CULINARY USES

Delicious stir-fried, steamed, or boiled but never eaten raw, except for the young flowering shoots and small leaves. They can be used in smoothies and salads.


Most popular dish is Ka na nam mun hoy which is stir fired with oyster sauce. Unlike regular broccoli, the stems are usually tender and do not need to be peeled.


Click on the link of our restaurant the Food Forest Kitchen to find recipes with kana.

 

NUTRITION

Low in Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin B6, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Copper, Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese.

 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER


NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.


Thai Kale is believed to have cleansing qualities, as well as a mild laxative, an anti - inflammatory, and treatment for glaucoma and pneumonia.

 

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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