ପୋଇ – Poi – Malabar Spinach (Basella alba) is a vine type plant. Its leaves are thick. It is a popular and beneficial herb and its leaves are also used as a vegetable. Basella alba, commonly known as Malabar Spinach, is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed, twining vine that can grow up to 10 feet (3 m) long as an annual (longer as a perennial), but generally remains smaller in most gardens. The dark green, glossy, oval to heart-shaped leaves are thick and semi-succulent with a mucilaginous texture. The inconspicuous white or pink elongated, globular, fleshy flowers are produced in short spikes in the leaf axils. They are followed by ornamental, 4-parted deep-purple to black berries. The edible leaves (and shoots) resemble spinach with a mild, slightly peppery flavor with a hint of citrus and are used in the same way. The young leaves can be eaten raw mixed in a green salad and steamed or boiled to be used like cooked spinach.
Cool, delicious. It has been used medicinally in diarrhea, anemia and cancer.
Due to its cold properties, the juice and ghee of the leaves are applied to the burns. Poetry juice is also used to treat constipation in pregnant women.”
Cakes(ପିଠା) are also made from its leaves. In addition, lentils are made by pouring lime on the leaves. The leaves and stems are cut into small pieces and rhizome is dried with vegetables or dried. Its small kai (poikai) is also made into vegetables. Poishag Rai and Poishag Shrimp Ghant are popular dishes made from Poishag.