Bele, the little-known vegetable…

Bele is a green leafy vegetable. It is often known as island cabbage or slippery cabbage. The botanic name is Hibiscus Manihot and many people call it bele spinach, aibika, and sunset hibiscus too. While bele is nutritionally very rich, it is a little-known vegetable. Maybe because of its slippery texture which many people don’t like. It has been a staple in the South Pacific for centuries. However, in recent times its popularity has spread throughout the Pacific. Its nutritional values and many uses may be useful in other countries too. So, bele is best known for its dark shiny leaves and cute yellow flowers. Bele plant commonly grows one to one and a half metres tall. It is known to grow up to three metres tall in rich fertile soils.

Cultivation

Bele is easy to grow. You may plant cuttings about fifteen to thirty centimetres long. So, the new plant is normally ready for harvest two to three months from planting. Hence, it is quick on return on investment. Generally, a healthy plant may produce for up to two years. The leaves may vary in size and shape. It depends on the variety and soil conditions.

It is mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Bele is a perfect vegetable for home gardens. They will need very little care. Thus, they are easy to maintain. However, it grows better with some manure and weeding. Island cabbage is a high-yielding vegetable. So, healthy plants may yield about three hundred sixty kilograms per hectare per annum.

Nutritional values

Its popularity is because of its high nutritional value. This green leafy vegetable contains a very high level of protein too. It may be up to five percent. Thus far, bele is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. It has a significant amount of iron too. So, bele makes a valuable contribution to any diet plan because of its rich nutritional contents. For instance, The World Health Organisation recommends island cabbage as the first vegetable for babies. It is possibly because you and tender leaves contain very little fibre. Hence, it is easy for babies to digest.

So far, Papua New Guinea records show that bele leaves make good medicines. It is suitable to treat rashes, constipation, colds, and sore throats. Bele is appropriate for childbirth fertility medicines too.

Pacific diets

Along with taro leaves, bele spinach is the most eaten green vegetable across all the Pacific islands. Its popular recipe is to wrap fish in bele leaves to cook in coconut cream. Another popular choice is to mix mackerel and onions to lightly pan-fry. You may adopt almost any vegetable recipe to include bele. Thus far, if you like the slippery side of the leaves, you mix them in your favourite salads too. Many people add this nutritious vegetable to any superfood powder or tea.

Slippery cabbage is known to be helpful to relieve ulcers and internal wounds. Thus far, it is suitable for pregnancy. It helps nourish and prepare soft tissues. It supports postpartum health and healing too. Since bele is in the mallow family, it is somewhat mucilaginous in quality. Thus, nourishing the mucus membranes within the body.