Blue elephant aloe, Railway aloe
Agave vera-cruz

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A large plant with broad spiny leaves. They curve back near the tip.

Considerable processing is used in the food preparation. There are about 250 Agave species. The Agavaceae are mostly in the tropics and subtropics. Moisture: 78.9%. Petroleum ether extract: 0.1%. Crude fibre: 1.5%. Ash: 0.5%. Starch: nil. Carbohydrate (as reducing sugars): 19.0% (mainly polyfructosan).

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Tamil Nadu. It suits warm places. It Mexico it grows at about 1,800 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Stems from plants with open flowering stalks are eaten. The flowers and buds are made into chutney. The large stems have the outer skin scraped off then they are washed and cut into small pieces then washed again. They are then heated over a fire for 2 hours and kept hot for 10 hours before cooking for a further 2 hours. Then tamarind and sugar are added and cooked for another hour. The cooking water is thrown away.

Edible parts

Stem, flowers, flower buds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ghaypat, Kektad, Kekti, Thin-baw-na-nat

Synonyms

Agave breviscapa A. Berger ex Roster; Agave cyanophylla Jacobi; Agave haworthiana M. Roem.; Agave lepida D. Dietr.; Agave lurida Aiton; Agave magni Desf.; Agave manguai Desf.; Agave mexicana Lam.; Agave polyphylla K. Koch; Agave cera-crucis Haw.; Agave vernae A. Berger;