{"id":323,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=323"},"modified":"2025-08-03T23:21:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T23:21:01","slug":"tahitian-spinach","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/tahitian-spinach\/","title":{"rendered":"Tahitian spinach"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Xanthosoma brasiliense<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0Celery stem Taro, Tannier Spinach, Tahitian Taro<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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

Tahitian spinach is a tropical perennial clumper<\/b> that grows 1\u20132 metres tall, forming a striking patch of giant heart-shaped leaves<\/b> on thick, edible stems. It\u2019s part of the same family as ornamental \u201cElephant Ears\u201d (so it looks stunning in the garden), but this one\u2019s not just pretty \u2013 it\u2019s productive too.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Climate:<\/b> Loves the tropics and subtropics<\/b>, but will grow anywhere frost-free. In cooler areas, it will sulk over winter or die back to its base, then re-sprout when warmth returns.<\/p>\r\n

Sun & soil:<\/b> Thrives in moist, rich soil<\/b> and will happily sit in a boggy patch<\/b> or at the edge of a pond<\/b>. Prefers partial sun to light shade \u2013 too much hot, direct sun can make the leaves coarse.<\/p>\r\n

Water & drought tolerance:<\/b> It\u2019s a water-lover but not fussy<\/b>. Tahitian spinach thrives in constant damp, yet will tolerate short dry spells (it just slows down growth).<\/p>\r\n

Planting & propagation:<\/b> Once you\u2019ve got a clump going, you\u2019ll never run out \u2013 just dig up side suckers or divide the clump and replant. Any piece with a chunk of root will grow.<\/p>\r\n

Containers:<\/b> It\u2019s surprisingly happy in big pots or tubs<\/b>, especially in a greenhouse or sheltered spot \u2013 perfect for cooler climates or if you want to keep it contained.<\/p>\r\n

Tip:<\/b> Give it a good mulch and regular drinks of worm juice, compost tea, or seaweed solution \u2013 you\u2019ll be rewarded with huge, lush leaves and fat, crunchy stems.

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

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

Tahitian spinach isn\u2019t just a filler green \u2013 it\u2019s packed with nutrition.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Vitamins A, B & C<\/b> for immunity, energy, and skin health.<\/li>\r\n
  • Iron<\/b> for healthy blood.<\/li>\r\n
  • Calcium<\/b> for bones and teeth.<\/li>\r\n
  • Potassium<\/b> for heart and muscle health.<\/li>\r\n
  • Plus good levels of fibre<\/b>, which helps digestion and keeps you feeling full.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Herbal and traditional uses:<\/b> In parts of the Pacific, Tahitian spinach is used as a \u201cstrengthening food\u201d<\/b> \u2013 the kind of hardy green you throw in a soup to keep you going. The fibre content also makes it useful for digestive health.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

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

    \u201cCallaloo tonic\u201d soup<\/strong> \u2013 simmered with coconut milk, onions, and herbs for nourishment.
    Steamed leaf wraps<\/strong> \u2013 eaten postpartum for recovery in some Caribbean cultures.
    Poultice of wilted leaves<\/strong> \u2013 applied to minor burns and rashes<\/strong>.

    <\/p>\r\n

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

    Tahitian spinach\u2019s leaves and stems<\/b> can both be eaten, but cooking is key<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Leaves:<\/b> Young leaves are best. They can technically be eaten raw in tiny amounts, but they\u2019re chewy and slightly bitter \u2013 cooking removes this and softens them.<\/li>\r\n
    • Stems:<\/b> The thick, celery-like stems are the star \u2013 they soak up flavours beautifully and give dishes a juicy crunch.<\/b><\/b><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Storage tip:<\/b> Pick as needed \u2013 the leaves and stems wilt quickly after harvest. Keep stems in a container of water for a day or two, or store in the fridge wrapped in a damp tea towel.

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

      \"\"\r\n
      Leaf & stem cut down & prepared for cooking<\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n


      Simple recipe ideas<\/b><\/p>\r\n

      – Island-Style Coconut Curry:<\/b> Simmer chopped stems and leaves with coconut milk, garlic, and ginger.
      – Tahitian Spinach Soup:<\/b> Toss handfuls of leaves and chopped stems into chicken or veggie broth at the end of cooking.
      – Garlic Stir-Fry:<\/b> Flash fry stems with garlic and soy sauce for a quick side dish.
      – Quiche or Omelette Add-In:<\/b> Finely chop young leaves and stems for a savoury breakfast boost.
      – Rainy-Season Stew:<\/b> Cook leaves and stems slowly with beans, root veggies, and stock for a hearty one-pot meal.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Mulch factory:<\/b> The big leaves can be chopped and dropped as a rich mulch<\/b> for other plants.<\/li>\r\n
      • Ornamental value:<\/b> With its lush, tropical look<\/b>, Tahitian spinach doubles as a landscaping plant around ponds or shaded garden corners.<\/li>\r\n
      • Survival resilience:<\/b> When the wet season flattens your garden or other greens sulk, Tahitian spinach is still standing strong and pumping out food<\/b>.

        <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Why it\u2019s a survival plant<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

        Tahitian spinach is a set-and-forget food source<\/b> \u2013 plant it once and it will quietly provide leaves and stems for years. It loves wet spots, survives tough ones, and steps up when more fragile greens disappear \u2013 a dependable ally for the survival gardener.<\/b><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Tahitian spinach is a big, bold perennial leafy green<\/b> with huge elephant-ear-style leaves and thick, crunchy stems. Thriving in boggy spots where other plants give up, it\u2019s a true survival crop<\/b> that provides food when floods, heat, or neglect wipe out more delicate vegetables.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":181,"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":[37,39,41,45],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-323","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-bog-water-plants","7":"product_cat-drought-resistant-plants","8":"product_cat-mulch-plants","9":"product_cat-soups-and-curries","11":"first","12":"instock","13":"shipping-taxable","14":"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\/323","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=323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=323"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=323"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}