Sweet Prayer Plant (Thaumatococcus daniellii)

Family: Marantaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Thaumatococcus daniellii, otherwise known as Sweet Prayer Plant, is native to western part of Africa, from Sierra Leone to Zaire. It is a large flowering herb with rhizomatous rootstock, growing about 4 m in height. It is a natural source of thaumatin, a low-calorie sweetener and flavor modifier protein. The leaves are ovateelliptic, large, and papery. The flowers are purple which occur singly or in branched spikes.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

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

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet flavour. — Seed - raw or cooked.; A very sweet flavour.; When the raw seed is chewed, it affects the taste buds so that, for about an hour thereafter, any sour foods that are eaten or drunk seem to have a sweet flavour.; The seeds are also used for sweetening bread, fruits, tea etc.

Habitat & North American Range

Tropical lowland rainforest. Forest clearings. (Zone 10)