Chaya or Tree spinach; the king of all leafy vegetables

Chaya or tree spinach (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) is a large leafy perennial shrub from Mexico. It is also known as Chaya mansa or Mayan cheera or Mexican cheera. Chaya mansa is a bush with succulent stems that exudes a milky sap when cut. Chaya is the most popular leafy vegetable in Mexico and Central America. The fast-growing chaya grows up to 6 meters tall. Chaya is really the king of all leafy vegetables because the quality and quantity of the leaves could be harvested from it is much greater than all other spinach varieties.

Cultivation and Propagation

Chaya is an easy to grow spinach variety. Stem cuttings of 6” to 12” long are used as cultivars. Usually prunes the plant for growing up to the height of 2meters for easy harvesting. It is better to start harvesting leaves from chaya after one year because the slow root establishing of the plant. The leaves can be collected continuously up to the half of the total count. It grows well in Kerala.

 Nutritional properties

Chaya leaves contain much greater amounts of nutrients than spinach leaves. The major nutritional contents in Chaya leaves are very high in protein, calcium, iron, carotene, vitamin A, B, C and a rich source of antioxidants. Nutrient levels of chaya leaves are two to three folds greater than any other leafy green vegetables.

The chaya leaves must be cooked before being eaten, as the raw leaves contain a glucoside with toxic cyanide. When cooked the cyanide is volatilized as Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) so Chaya can be safely consumed.

Health benefits from consuming Chaya leaves

The major health benefits from regular consumption of chaya leaves are as follows;

1. Improves blood circulation

2. Helps digestion

3. Improve vision

4. Prevents varicose veins and hermorrhoids

5. Lower cholostrol

6. Helps to reduce weight

7. Prevents cough

8. Augments calcium in the bones.

9. Decongests and disinfects the lungs

10. Prevents anemia

11. Improves memory and brain function

12. Combats arthritis and

13. Improves glucose metabolism and prevents diabetes.

Uses of Mayan spinach

The major uses of chaya mansa are as follows;

·         To make herbal tea and various other health drinks.

·         Cooked chaya leaves could be added in soups stews, pizza, smoothies, sauce and salads.

·         Any recipes with spinach can be substituted with cooked chaya leaves.

·         As a shade tree.

·         As a fencing.

·         As an ornamental plant.

·         As a fodder to chicken.as fresh or dried.

·         Making compost for vegetable garden.

 

Chaya recipes

Chaya leaf is a tasty vegetable having high nutritional properties. Non matured chaya leaves with the tender stem tips are cut down and cooked as spinach at least 20 minutes.

Not to cook the chaya leaves in aluminium pans.

Cooked chaya leaves could be added in soups stews, pizza, smoothies, sauce, salads and any recipes with spinach can be substituted with cooked chaya leaves.

Chaya mansa tea

Herbal tea with chaya mansa can be prepared with chaya leaves. Add 1 liter of water to 5 chopped tender chaya leaves and boil it to 20-30 minutes. When it cools down add a pinch of salt and lime juice, your chaya mansa tea is ready. Drink it as three times. Dried leaves are also used for making chaya mansa tea. It is used as a health drink and for controlling diabetes.

Grow this miracle spinach in every home and add it to your regular diet.

Saplings of evergreen vegetables including chaya mansa are available with Keralaponics.  Contact us on 9387735697 or keralaponics@gmail.com