Malabar spinach is a familiar vegetable, especially in the summer, a bowl of Malabar spinach crab soup is a dish that many people like. However, not everywhere Malabar spinach is sold cheaply.



Malabar spinach, has many different names such as Malabar spinach, spinach, Malabar spinach or Ceylon spinach and has the scientific name Basella alba, belonging to the family of Malabar spinach (Basellaceae).

Malabar spinach is native to tropical Asia and Africa, specifically the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asian countries and New Guinea.



Malabar spinach is a climbing plant, soft stem, slightly large in size, grows quickly and the length of the vine can even be up to 10m. Malabar spinach can live for two years or as an annual. The leaves are thick, heart-shaped, look very succulent and have a slimy texture. The inflorescences grow in the leaf axils, are white or light purple-red.

The berries are small, spherical or ovoid in shape and green in colour but turn purple-black when ripe.