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Kavdar / कवदर / Wild Banana / Ensete superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman

Local Name: Kavdar / कवदर

Common Name: Wild Banana

Botanical Name: Ensete superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman

Status & Habitat

Habitat: Herb

Occurrence: Wild or cultivated, hilly areas

Season of Availability: Year-round

Geography: Western Ghats, South India hills

Method of Propagation: Seed propagation

Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

Edible Parts: Flowers & Stem

Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

Raw: No

Ripe: No

Both Raw & Ripe: No

Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant with seeds

As Food: Plant parts cooked as a vegetable

As Medicine: Plant parts eaten for strength and immunity.
Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

Boiling Before Cooking: N/A

Pickling: N/A

Brining: N/A

Fermenting: N/A

Drying for later Consumption: N/A

Overall Method: Rhizomes boiled like a potato; leaf bases cooked like a vegetable; flower cooked into curries.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

Nutritional Benefit: Contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Medicinal Benefit: Helps cure dog bites, kidney stones, food poisoning, tiredness, chills; helps improve immunity.

Tribal Wisdom

Tribal Wisdom: Seed powder helps with curing dog bites and kidney stones; stem is used to treat food poisoning, tiredness and chills; whole plant is taken for immunity.

Recipes

Tribal Recipe: Saisu Bai: cut around 500g of Ensete superbum shoot into small pieces and add to pre-boiled water. Include cowpea leaves, chili, and salt in equal amounts. Add a bit of cooking oil and baking soda.