Occurrence: Farm bunds, Roadside, Hilly area, Barren land
Season of Availability: Year-round
Geography: Central America
Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
Part used for Propagation: Seeds
Edible Parts
Edible Parts: Leaves & Seeds
Can be Eaten Raw: No
Method of Consumption
Raw: No
Ripe: No
Both Raw & Ripe: No
Dangerous Form to Consume: When raw
As Food: Young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable with other vegetables and pulses; roasted seeds made into a tea known as "coffee-tea" because of its coffee-like aroma
As Medicine: Roasted seeds used as an alternative to coffee; seed paste applied to eczema, insect bites, etc.; shoots and leaves are useful in treating bloating; leaves pounded with alcohol can be applied to insect bites.
Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Yes
Boiling Before Cooking: Yes, to make herbal tea
Pickling: N/A
Brining: N/A
Fermenting: N/A
Drying for later Consumption: Yes, Seeds
Overall Method: Leaves can be cooked into a sabji; roasted seeds brewed into a tea.
Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits
Nutritional Benefit: Helps reduce cholesterol.
Medicinal Benefit: Leaves and seeds are used in leprosy, gastric troubles, colic, constipation, bronchitis, cough and heart ailments
Tribal Wisdom
Tribal Wisdom: Roasted seeds used as an alternative to coffee; seed paste applied to eczema, insect bites, etc.; shoots and leaves are useful in treating bloating; leaves pounded with alcohol can be applied to insect bites.
Recipes / Usage
Tribal Recipe / Usage: Sickle senna sabji:
- In a kadai, mix mustard seeds, oil, chilis, garlic, coconut, bay leaf, onion. Mix then grind into a powder.
- Put this back into the kadai and mix with washed and cut leaves.
