Things You need to Know about Lagos spinach

 

Lagos Spinach or rather Efo shoko/ shokoyoto is one of Nigeria's most common vegetable fortunately found in the western Nigeria and used in the preparation of Efo riro( the rumble in my stomach hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm)
Shoko which is the Yoruba name for Lagos spinach,celosia argentea,and it is a common vegetable which , i am certain many of us do not knowsome certain things about this wonderful vegetable

For Cooking Purpose

These leaves, young stems and young inflorescences are used for stew, as they soften up readily in cooking. The leaves also have a soft texture and have a mild spinach-like taste. They are also pepped up with such things as hot pepper, garlic, fresh lime, and red palm oil and eaten as a side dish. The bitter leaf is a very important vegetable in Nigeria and it can be purchased in markets. These plants flourish well wherever it is grown. The bitterness of this plant can be removed by cooking it well. This plant is drought tolerant and can be grown in dry or water starved areas. The flowers are also commonly called as wool flowers.

Medicinal Uses

• The seeds are used for the treatment of chest pain while the flowers are used for treating diarrhea.
• It grows abundantly in the country of Mexico where it is called as velvet flowers since the flowers looks like velvet.
• This plant is also cultivated in many countries such as northern South America, tropical Africa, the West Indies, South, East and Southeast Asia where it is grown as a native or naturalized wildflower, and is cultivated as a nutritious leafy green vegetable.
• The celosia plants can be used for the treatment of intestinal worms such as tapeworms
• It Is considered to be an aphrodisiac
•  it is great for digestive health
• It is sometimes used as dressing for boils and sores.

• Other Facts

  The Name shokoyoyoto is the plants name among Yoruba's in south western Nigeria, it is literally means the vegetable that makes your husband's face rosy. 

  It is cousins with Efotete basically shoko is a member of Amaranth family and shares many features with members of the genus amaranth us

  The name Kaphikautesi by which it is known, in Malawi means eaten by lazy ones. Some suspect that it was given the name because it is easily produced and cooked.

  In Swahili it is called Mfungu, In Republic of Benin it is called Avounvo, In Uganda it is called Ekaliyo, In Ethiopia it is known as Belbila In sudan, it is called Bambit and Botanically it is called Celosi Argentea

  Thank You for reading. 

  xoxoxo