Sweet Leaf (Sauropus androgynus)

Family: Phyllanthaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (5/5)

Sauropus androgynus or also known as Sweet Leaf is a tropical shrub growing about 2-3m tall. It has small red flowers, compound dark green and oval leaves, and purple fruits. Mainly found throughout Southeast Asia, it is often cultivated as leaf vegetable. The leaves are used medicinally to treat coughs and fever but mainly used as food - either consumed raw or cooked. Young shoots and fruits are edible as well.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour like asparagus. — Leaves - raw or cooked.; Young leaves make a good addition to salads, whilst older leaves are best cooked.; They can be added to soups or cooked with rice.; Young shoots about 7cm long, harvested as the leaves unfurl, have a flavour like asparagus.

Habitat & North American Range

Slopes with brushwood, sunny forest margins at elevations of 100 - 400 metres in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces. (Zone 10)