Spekboom (elephant bush)
Portulacaria afra
leaf
Small, fleshy, tangy leaves, eaten raw or added to South African salads and stews.
- Origin
- South Africa
- Where to find it
- In the dry thickets of the Eastern Cape and the Karoo; it is also sold everywhere as a succulent houseplant.
- Season (United States)
- all year round
- Preparation
- The small leaves are pulled from the stems, rinsed and eaten raw, a handful at a time, or added to a stew at the end of cooking.
- Did you know?
- It stores so much carbon that it is planted en masse to restore the dry lands of the Cape.