Get to know Snowflake Vegetable a new vegetable. That can eaten both cooked and fresh, with a great taste.
In recent years, Crystal Ice Plant has rapidly gained popularity among health enthusiasts. Due to its many health benefits, unique taste and texture, this vegetable has nickname the “jewel of the vegetable world”
Origins and discoveries
Snowflake vegetable originated in South Africa, the Sinai Peninsula, and southern Europe. It is said that the first planters found this vegetable mix in ยูฟ่าเบท with the sand, so they planted it as an ornamental plant due to its beautiful leaves. That always look like snowflakes. Later, the many benefits of this vegetable were discover. So it began to be widely consumed.
Appearance and taste
Snowflake vegetable, scientific name Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L., is a short bush with succulent stems and rather thick leaves. It has a slightly salty taste but no pungent smell. It can use in a variety of dishes, both Thai and foreign. It is popularly eaten with pasta, sesame oil salad, tempura fried vegetables, or with sea grape-style papaya salad.
Highlights of Snow Vegetables
Snowflake vegetable has a unique feature: the leaves have special cells called “bladder cells” that store food, minerals, and water, helping this vegetable to withstand drought conditions. It also makes the leaves look like they covere in ice flakes.
Nutritional value
Snowflake vegetable is a highly nutritious plant, rich in calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9 and many antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase.
Health benefits
- Protect skin from UV-C rays
- Disinfect
- Strengthen bones
- Prevent heart disease
- Anti-diabetic
- Accelerate metabolism
- Nourish eyesight
Current popularity
Snow vegetable is currently popular in many countries such as India, the United States, Australia, and Germany. In Asia, it is popular in Japan and is call “Barafu”. In Thailand, it has only recently become popular.