Kenaf

Scientific Name : Hibiscus cannabinus.

Common Names : Deccan hemp, Java jute

Malay Name : Kenaf

Tamil Name : Pulicha Keerai

Chinese Name : “Yang Ma” (foreign hemp)

Grown in Egypt more than 6000 years ago, Kenaf was used to make the “sackcloth” that you read about in the Bible. It is now prized by the likes of Toyota and Panasonic who have developed kenaf fibres to replace plastics and timber-based plywood¹. Eaten in India as “Gongura”, the edible leaves of the “Whitten” strand have up to 34% Protein. It is a fast growing plant (faster than weeds), requires little water and can sequester 8x more carbon than evergreen trees².

Growing :
You can grow them from seeds but it’s easiest to buy a pack of “Keerai” vegetables from your neighbourhood Indian market stall. Eat the young leaves and stems. Then soak the left over stems in a shallow container of water and let them root in a week or so. Plant them in potting mix and regularly prune them by 1/3 or half to encourage branching. Leave them unpruned and they will flower and fruit in no time³. The stalks and roots stores water effectively and hence can grow in arid regions where other plants fail⁴.

Eating :
The young leaves and shoots can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. It has a sour acidic taste. The Indians have a variety of recipes ranging from pickles to a tangy drink using the flowers⁵. The seeds can be ground to a gluten free flour for baking⁶. Our favourite is a quick clear sourish soup made from the fresh leaves and some anchovy stocks.

Nutrition :
The chemical composition of fresh Kenaf leaves: ⁷

Crude Protein : 25.7%

Crude Fibre : 11.4%

A unique strand known as Whitten Kenaf was developed by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station in 2005. The leaves are delicious and have up to 34% protein.⁸

References :

1. Great Gongura : Health Benefits by Value Food
2. Kenaf – The Environmental Entrepreneurship Powerhouse by Dr Carolyn M Cross
3. How To Grow Kenaf Hibiscus From Seeds by SFGate
4. A Las Doce by Philippines Medicinal Plants
5. Hibiscus Cannabinus by Useful Tropical Plants

The contents and references in this posting are for educational purposes only. Please consult your medical professional before consuming this food either cooked or raw, especially if you have any medical conditions.