Mukombero is a perennial woody rather vigorous climber with aromatic roots.
It is also known as white ginger, and mondia whitei and belongs to the family apocynaceae.
They have a bitter flavor that recalls ginger and licorice, with a vanilla-like aroma.
This plant is native to the African continent. It is mainly grown mainly in the Western part of Kenya.
The Luhya among many other tribal groups chewed it raw as a vegetable. It is also renowned for its libido enhancement capabilities.
The Luhya community also chewed it for good luck before performing a difficult task.
It was a symbol of peace and a sign of power.
Mukombero is also appreciated for its healing properties. Impotent men were given Mukombero as a remedy.
What You Will Learn In This Post:
How Mondia Whitei Grows
This perennial plant grows in moist areas, tropical rainforest, swamp forest, riverine forest, wooded savannah, forest margins.
The roots of Mukombero are pale yellow or brown color on the outside and white or pale yellow inside. They are easily cultivated from seed. The seeds are collected once the fruit starts to split open.
Plant them at the onset of the rainy season.
The harvest takes place from the month of April and September. The leaves are 10-30 cm wide and ovate with a cordate base. The petioles and veins are reddish.
The flowers have five pale yellow to reddish-purple petals and have an unpleasant odor.
The leaves and flowers mainly appear in the canopy of the supporting vegetation and hence rarely noticed. The fruits which is almost woody contains many seeds and is in a pair cucumber shaped follicle.
How Do You Consume Mukombero
You can consume Mukombero raw, cooked, or dried. The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Dried and powdered leaves are used as condiments. The roots can be used dried or fresh to flavor food such as meat stews and tea.
The root bark is eaten raw either as a snack or to freshen the mouth.
Due to its bitter and spicy flavor, the root powder is mixed with porridge to increase appetite.
Take one teaspoon of the herb powder thrice per day in any of you preferred drink be it coffee, hot water, or tea.
The powder can also be taken as a food supplement. Its effectiveness is not instant but systematic.
How do you consume your Mukombero? Please let us know in the comments section