Bitter Leaf


Young Bitter Leaf Plant [Tree vernonia, Bitter-tea Vernonia, Iron Weed (not unique); Eto Ewuro (Yoruba); Etidot (Ibibio); Onugbu, Onugbo (Igbo); Ityuna (Tiv); Oriwo (Edo); Chusar-doki, Shuwaka (Hausa); Mululuza, Muburiz (Luganda); Labwori (Acholi); Fatefata (Nigeria); Orugbu (Urobos, Itesekiris)," Etidot (Cross River); Nje nyani, An-gbentho (Sierra Leone); Aluma, Gbondutsi (Togo); Bantara bururé, Dakuna, Kossa fina (Guinea); Awonwono (Ghana); Ndoleh, Ying (Cameroon); Grawa (Amharic, Tigrign); Ebichaa (Ethiopia); Mujonso, Mtukutu (Swhaili); Omubillzi (Tanzania); Umubillzi (Rwanda); Olusia (Luo); Mudalha Kikuyu (Kikuyu); Omulusia (Luhya); Omubirizi, Mululuza (Uganda); Dembezeko, Musikavakadzi, Muzhozho, Nyareru (Shona); Inyathelo (Ndebele); Rivierbloutee (Afrikaans); Vernonia amygdalina syn. Gymnanthemum amygdalinum also V. colorata, V. calvoana, probably others]

These large shrubs or small trees are native to Tropical Africa but are also widespread in West Africa and as far south as Angola and Mozambique. There are about 1000 species of Veronia native to Africa, North and South America and Asia but only in Sub-Saharan Africa are they used as a green leafy vegetable. The species listed above are the main ones, with V. amygdalina dominating, and the nearly identical V. colorata in higher, drier environments. The leaves are particularly used in Nigeria and Zimbabwe in soups, including Bitter Leaf Soup, and stews. They are best used fresh, but dried are also used. The photo is of my own plant, two months from when it was about 10 inches high. This is a fast growing plant. This one consists of two shoots from a rooted cutting.

Bitter Leaf, and other species in the Veronia genus are highly medicinal, particularly against parasites, and are used throughout their range. They are currently under intensive research to scientifically verify their medicinal uses.

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Buying:

  In North America Bitter Leaf is available dried, mainly on-line from African specialty sources, but is costly. Fresh leaves are becoming available in California and Florida, but still at very high prices.

Growing:

  Plants are easily available on the Internet to grow your own fresh leaves. This is a very fast growing plant, and will tolerate growing an a container, if it is large enough. The photo specimen, from a cutting, grew very fast, straight and high. It was knocked over by high winds to about 45 degrees. This is fine - in Africa they often plant them at an angle to encourage side branches. in the photo you see side branches with the two main stems in the background.

Harvesting:

  Once your plant has branched out, it is best to cut the ends of shoots rather than picking individual leaves. This causes the plant to produce more branches with lots of leaves. In East Africa shoots are cut during the wet season when they can regenerate, and leaves are picked during the dry season.

Prep:

  Their Bitterness is caused by anti-nutrient phytochemicals, which is the reason for extensive preparation before using in recipes. Leaves are always washed and wrung out in several changes of water to reduce this bitterness to the extent desired.

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