Hello Hiveians, a blessed morning to you. I have shared some of my experiences with farming, which focuses on crops and fruits. Today, I will be taking a diversion to talk about a leaf.
Some people refer to it as vegetables, especially when mixed with melon or combined with other suitable ingredients, while others see it as herbs when squeezed and the water is drained to be taken as medicine.
Bitter leaf is one of the best gifts of nature, and I am glad to have it on my farm. As a matter of fact, I have had the privilege of enjoying bitter leaves as well-cooked delicacies and as herbs right from a tender age to date.
The popular mystery of nature displayed by this leaf is how it tastes bitter when you eat it but later gives a sweet taste after you’ve swallowed it, and the sweet taste may last for a minute or more, especially if you drink water after taking it.
I stand to be corrected, but the amazing thing I know about this sweet attribute is that you cannot find the uniqueness in any other leaf or plant.
Some use the bitter leaf stick as a brush or chewing stick; at least I have seen some elderly ones do that while growing up.
After trying it myself, I discovered brushing with the stick is not a bad idea because it gave me this special feeling, leaving my mouth with sweet sensations early in the morning.
Although I still brush my teeth with a brush and toothpaste afterwards, I cannot forget the feelings I had back then. I still chew the stick, but not as a brush; I just sometimes enjoy the liquid content squeezed from it.
Planting a bitter leaf is very easy. Get a bitter leaf stick that still has a sign of life, by this, I mean if you peel the back cover of the stick, you must see green flesh, as shown below. No matter how dry a stick looks, once you see the green part, it can still be planted.
Bitter leaf grows easily, and you only need to wet it at the initial stage. Once it grows, you won’t need to look after it so much, as it will create a space for itself.
One of the major parasites that affect bitter leaves is termites, and the best way to control them is to use insecticide or pour some salt on them. I also learned that garlic oil can drive them away.
There are several bitter leaf soups and recipes served by different Nigerian tribes. Every bitter leaf soup I have tasted makes me want more. The bitter leaf plants on my farm have definitely come to stay.
ALL IMAGE CREDITS ARE BY ME UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.