Malabar Spinach

## Malabar Spinach **Malabar Spinach** (*Basella alba* or *Basella rubra*), also known as **Indian Spinach**, **Ceylon Spinach**, **Vine Spinach**, or **Climbing Spinach**, is a vigorous, fast-growing, edible leafy vine native to tropical Asia and Africa. Despite its common name, it is not a true spinach (which is a member of the Amaranthaceae family) but belongs to the Basellaceae family. * **Growth Habit:** It is a soft-stemmed, twining, perennial vine, typically grown as an annual in cooler climates, which can reach up to 10 meters in length. It requires a trellis or support to climb. * **Leaves and Stems:** The leaves are thick, glossy, fleshy, and oval to heart-shaped. * **Green Variety (*Basella alba*):** Features deep green stems and leaves. * **Red Variety (*Basella rubra*):** Distinguished by attractive reddish-purple stems and pink veins on the leaves, making it a popular ornamental edible. * **Flavor and Texture:** Both the leaves and tender shoots are edible and have a mild, slightly peppery, and sometimes citrusy flavor, similar to true spinach. When cooked, the leaves become slightly **mucilaginous** or slippery (similar to okra), which makes them an excellent natural **thickener** for soups, stews, and curries in Asian, Indian, and African cuisines. * **Climate:** Unlike true spinach, which bolts in the heat, Malabar spinach thrives in hot, humid weather and is an ideal spinach substitute during the summer months. * **Nutrition:** It is highly nutritious, being an excellent source of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, and fiber. The plant's red-purple berries also yield a tasteless juice that has been historically used as a food colorant and dye.