Sah-taw | สะตอ | Parkia speciosa
Family: Fabaceae - Genus: Parkia
The stink bean trees can be found in the area of Paksong on plantations.
Stink Bean, also known as the bitter bean, twisted cluster bean, grows on a tree. It bears long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, due to sulfur-containing compounds.
The tree can grow to about 30 meters tall. It bears flowers in a light bulb-shaped mass at the end of long stalks. The flowers secrete a nectar that attracts bats and other pollinators. The fruits emerge as long, twisted, translucent pods in a cluster of seven or eight pods. When those pods are mature, within them the beans can be found.
Stink beans are usually grown in the southern provinces and harvested from June to August.
THE TREE
It is an umbrella-shaped tree that can grow up to 45 m tall, with pinkish or reddish-brown bark, and can form buttress roots.
The fruits emerge as long, twisted, translucent pods in a cluster of seven or eight pods. When those pods are mature, within them the beans can be found.
It is an umbrella-shaped tree that can grow up to 45 m tall, with pinkish or reddish-brown bark, and can form buttress roots.
THE LEAVES
It has alternate, stalked, twice pinnate compound leaves that are 11–45 centimeter long. The leaves have 11–25 pairs of side-stalk, and each has 18–42 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are oblong, and 3–12 by 1–3 mm.
THE FLOWERS
The stink bean tree produces bisexual flowers. The flowers are tiny, cream-white, and clustering on a bomb-shaped head. The heads are stalked, and 5¬.1–8.9 centimeter long.
The flowers secrete a nectar that attracts bats and other pollinators.
THE BEANS
Beans or seeds look like broad beans. Like mature broad beans, they may have to be peeled before cooking. The bean has earned its nickname 'stink bean' because its strong smell is very pervasive. It lingers in the mouth and body. Like asparagus, it contains certain amino acids that give a strong smell to one's urine, an effect that can be noticed up to two days after consumption.
CULINARY USES
The beans are popular as culinary ingredient in Thailand. They are best when combined with other strongly flavored foods such as garlic, chili peppers, dried shrimp. When young, the pods are flat because the seeds have not yet developed, and they hang like a bunch of slightly twisted ribbons, pale green, almost translucent. At this stage they may be eaten raw, fried or pickled. Young tender pods with undeveloped beans can be used whole in stir-fried dishes.
The seeds are also dried and seasoned for later consumption. When dried the seeds turn black.
Click on the logo of the Food Forest Kitchen Restaurant for the recipe of 'Koong Sator': shrimp with stink beans, as served in our restaurant in Paksong.
NUTRITION
The nutritional composition of the seeds is substantial with rich proteins, fats, carbohydrates , minerals and fibers. Edible part (100 gram) contains essential minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorous, and Iron.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Seeds have hypoglycemic properties, traditionally used as folk remedy to lower blood sugar and treat diabetes, as well as kidney pain and colic. Also eaten to expel stomach gas. Seed pulp applied to wounds and ulcers.
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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