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Allotment Stuff => Swap Shop => Topic started by: djbrenton on January 11, 2006, 14:46:24

Title: Callaloo
Post by: djbrenton on January 11, 2006, 14:46:24
I hadn't intended to offer these as I didn't save all that many, however today the guy who gave me my plants last year asked me if I wanted any seeds. He then opened a full 5 litre tub and gave me an amount that would fill a sugar bag, so if anyone wants to try this wonderful crop PM me.
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: Diana on January 11, 2006, 17:00:50
Yes please DJ. Will PM you

D
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: kentishchloe on January 12, 2006, 11:01:27
OOh yes please - will pm you straightway,

Chloe
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: GardnerJ on January 12, 2006, 20:57:40
hello there i would love some please only a bit though! just a few seedsw will do if you can spare them?
i will send you my address
jemma aka gardnerj
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: grawrc on January 12, 2006, 21:49:50
What is Callaloo?
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: MutantHobbit on January 12, 2006, 23:27:05
cal·la·loo

1. The edible spinachlike leaves of the dasheen.

da·sheen  n. Caribbean.

   1. A variety of taro having large yellowish tubers.
   2. The tuber of this plant.

It's a plant much beloved in the West Indian community and they can't get enough of the stuff. ;D
Hope this helps! ;)

Dave
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: ipt8 on January 13, 2006, 21:57:14
Ha
Now I know what it is it sounds interesting. Could I have just a pinch of seeds to try please. I will pm you.
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 13, 2006, 22:54:43
Do you get tubers in the UK, or just the leaves?
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: djbrenton on January 14, 2006, 00:40:19
Just the leaves, the tuber variety is known as poi in Hawaii and as far as I know can't be grown properly here. They have to bash the root on a rock to soften it and after a while swinging the root around became an art form which is why those balls on string you see at Glastonbury being swung around are called poi.
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: amphibian on January 14, 2006, 21:20:23
Quote from: MutantHobbit on January 12, 2006, 23:27:05
cal·la·loo

1. The edible spinachlike leaves of the dasheen.

da·sheen  n. Caribbean.

   1. A variety of taro having large yellowish tubers.
   2. The tuber of this plant.

It's a plant much beloved in the West Indian community and they can't get enough of the stuff. ;D
Hope this helps! ;)

Dave


Callaloo is a non-specific caribbean term for leaf used like spinach (much like the hindi/urdu saag), it can refer either to the  leaf of Taro, Xanthosoma  or Amaranth or to a specific dish made from these leaves. Which it refers to varies throughout the caribbean.
Title: Re: Callaloo
Post by: grawrc on January 14, 2006, 23:01:23
Thank you for the info. I googled for dasheen and came up with:
The dasheen has three main uses: (1) corms and tubers used as a potato; (2) leaves as greens, once they have been boiled 15 minutes in water with a pinch of baking soda, drained, and then rinsed with boiling water; and (3) the blanched young shoots, obtained by forcing corms in the dark, furnish a tender vegetable having a flavor somewhat like that of mushrooms. A stew dish called calalou is prepared from dasheen leaves. Poi is made from fermented taro starch.

I think I'm probably safer to stick with spinach. ;)