Pak wan | ผักหวาน | Sauropus androgynus
Family: Phyllanthaceae - Genus: Sauropus
Pakwan bushes can be found along the paths towards TCDF, in the area of the Social Impact Cafe and on the food forest of TCDF and Eco-Logic
Sweet leaf is a shrub, its multiple upright stems can reach 2.5 meters high and bear dark green oval leaves 5–6 centimeter long. It is one of the most popular leafy vegetables in South Asia and Southeast Asia and is notable for high yields.
It is common in evergreen forest and cultivated up to 1,300 m.
Pak wan can be harvested the whole year through.
THE PLANT
Sweet leaf, is a shrub, its multiple upright stems can reach 2.5 meter high and bear dark green oval leaves . It is one of the most popular leafy vegetables in Asia and is notable for high yields.
THE LEAVES
Leaves are ovate-lance shaped 3-10 × 1.5-3.5 centimeter growing in distinctly opposite pairs along stems, edible with slightly nutty or pea-like flavor.
The shoot tips have been know as tropical asparagus.
THE FLOWERS
The plant has separate male and female flowers on same plant. Flowers are without petals, small but prominently produced in leaf axils.
Female flowers have 6 red sepals surrounding a single creamy-colored pistil, male flowers have 6 creamy sepals enclosing 3 reddish stamens.
The flowers and small purplish fruits of the plant can also be eaten .
THE FRUIT
Fruits are white explosive, 1.2 x 1.7 cm with persistent red sepals and many black seeds.
The small purplish fruits of the plant can also be eaten .
CULINARY USES
The leaves, berries and flowers of Pakwan are all edible.
Leaves are eaten raw or cooked.
Young leaves make a good addition to salads, whilst older leaves are best cooked. They can be added to soups or cooked with rice
Young shoots about 7cm long, harvested as the leaves unfurl, have a flavor like asparagus, a sweet flavor, rather similar to fresh garden peas
Ripe fruits can be made into candy.
A green dye, obtained from the leaves, is used for food dyeing.
Leaves of pak wan is used as a vegetable in many dishes in Thailand. At the Food Forest Kitchen restaurant you can find it steamed, in stir fried dishes and in small veggie tarts. Click on the link of the Food Forest Kitchen for the recipe.
NUTRITION
It is a good source of vitamin K. It also has high level of provitamin A carotenoids, especially in freshly picked leaves, as well as high levels of vitamins B and C, protein and minerals. The more the leaves mature, the higher the nutrient content of the leaves.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
The leaves are used as a medicine for coughs and to soothe the lungs, as a tonic, and as a febrifugal to relieve internal fever.
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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