{"id":285,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:01","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=285"},"modified":"2025-08-04T10:47:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T10:47:33","slug":"cassava","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/cassava\/","title":{"rendered":"Cassava"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Manihot esculenta<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0yuca, tapioca, mandico, alpim<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Cassava is a short\u2011lived perennial shrub<\/b> that can grow up to 3\u202fm tall, with lush lobed leaves and red\u2011green stems that add a touch of tropical beauty to the garden.<\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s native to South America<\/b> and is now grown extensively across the tropics and subtropics<\/b>. In warm climates, it behaves like a perennial, but in cooler regions it\u2019s best treated as an annual<\/b> \u2013 planted after frosts and harvested before winter.<\/p>\r\n

Cassava loves full sun<\/b> and well\u2011drained soil<\/b>, though it isn\u2019t fussy \u2013 it will grow in poor ground as long as it doesn\u2019t sit in water. It likes regular watering to bulk up the tubers, but it\u2019s incredibly drought\u2011tolerant<\/b> \u2013 even in dry spells, the plant keeps ticking over and will produce something.<\/p>\r\n

Propagation is simple: in late winter or early spring, take mature stems from dormant plants, cut them into 15\u201320<\/b>\u202f<\/b>cm pieces<\/b> with at least two nodes each, and plant them directly into beds or large pots. They root easily when the weather warms. While cassava will grow in pots, they need to be big<\/b> if you want worthwhile tubers.<\/p>\r\n

Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Cassava roots are famous for being a major carbohydrate source<\/b>, providing energy in regions where wheat or rice won\u2019t grow. They also contain useful levels of vitamin<\/b>\u202f<\/b>C<\/b>, calcium, and phosphorus.<\/p>\r\n

The leaves<\/b> are surprisingly high in protein<\/b> \u2013 something most starchy staple crops can\u2019t claim \u2013 and contribute extra vitamins and minerals.<\/p>\r\n

Cassava does, however, contain hydrocyanic acid<\/b> (a natural toxin) in both roots and leaves. Cooking safely removes this, but cassava must never be eaten raw<\/b>. Some varieties are lower in toxins, but the rule is simple: always cook it.<\/p>\r\n

Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Leaf poultice:<\/strong> Cooked leaves cooled and applied to wounds or boils.
Cassava broth:<\/strong> Light soup made from peeled tubers for post-illness recovery.
Fermented cassava (gari\/fufu):<\/strong> Used as a staple for digestion and gut health.
Leaf tonic tea:<\/strong> Boiled leaves (discard water once) used as a protein-boosting drink.

<\/p>\r\n

Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Cassava is a true two\u2011for\u2011one plant: you can eat both the roots and the leaves \u2013 as long as you cook them first.<\/p>\r\n

Leaves:<\/b> Boil in water for 10 minutes and discard the water. Once prepared, they can go into soups, curries, stir\u2011fries, or stews<\/b> \u2013 think of them like a tropical spinach.<\/p>\r\n

Roots:<\/b> Peel thoroughly and rinse to remove any sap, then use like potatoes \u2013 boil, mash, roast, or fry. Cassava chips are legendary, and roasted cassava has a sweet, nutty flavour.<\/p>\r\n

Simple Recipe ideas:<\/b>
– Cassava Chips<\/b> \u2013 slice peeled roots into wedges, toss with oil and salt, and roast or fry until golden.
– Leafy Cassava Curry<\/b> \u2013 boil leaves, then stir into coconut milk with garlic, onion, and chili.
– Cassava Mash<\/b> \u2013 boil peeled roots, mash with butter and herbs for a starchy side.
– Cassava Flatbread<\/b> \u2013 grate and squeeze roots, then cook the doughy mass on a hot plate for a rustic bread.
– Cassava Stew<\/b> \u2013 simmer peeled chunks with beans, tomatoes, and spices for a filling one\u2011pot meal.

<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"\r\n
Roots of Cassava ready for baking or boiling (peel first).

<\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Cassava isn\u2019t just for the plate. The large, lobed leaves<\/b> can be chopped and used as mulch<\/b> to feed and protect the soil, and the plant\u2019s woody stems make good fuel or stakes. Around the world, cassava is also used for making starch (tapioca)<\/b>, animal feed, and even biofuel.

<\/p>\r\n

Why it’s a survival plant:<\/h3>\r\n

Drought\u2011tolerant, easy to propagate, and productive even in poor soils<\/b>. With edible roots for energy and protein\u2011rich leaves for extra nutrition, it\u2019s one of those rare plants that can genuinely sustain you.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cassava is one of the great survival staples \u2013 a hardy, drought\u2011tolerant plant that feeds millions worldwide. With starchy tubers and protein\u2011rich leaves, it\u2019s an all\u2011rounder that provides real food in tough conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":67,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[39,41,45],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-285","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-drought-resistant-plants","7":"product_cat-mulch-plants","8":"product_cat-soups-and-curries","10":"first","11":"instock","12":"shipping-taxable","13":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=285"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=285"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}