Monkey Plum
Vitex payos — Lamiaceae
Italiano: Prugna delle scimmie
Description
Monkey Plum (Vitex payos) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is native to Africa. It thrives in Woodland, forest edge environments across regions including Africa. Botanically, Monkey Plum is tree producing dark purple-black sweet fruits relished by monkeys and humans. Found across East African woodlands.. The edible parts include Fruits. With an edibility rating of 7/10, it ranks as a good wild food source. Harvesting is best done during December, February, January and November. Nutritionally, Monkey Plum stands out for its Vitamin K (30.0mg, 25% DV), Vitamin C (20.0mg, 22% DV) and Vitamin E (1.0mg, 7% DV). It also provides 2.0g protein and 3.0g dietary fiber per 100g serving. In the kitchen, Monkey Plum offers a Sweet, honeyed, date-like flavor profile. Select fully ripe dark fruits; eat raw. Common culinary applications include Fresh eating, Dried fruit. Popular preparations include Eat fresh when dark purple and soft. For storage, refrigerate fresh parts. Safety note: None significant. Antinutrient content is minimal. Be aware that Verify identification before consumption. Safe lookalike species include Similar edible species. Always verify identification with at least three independent botanical sources before consumption.
🌿 Foraging Tips
🍳 Recipe: Eat fresh when dark purple and soft
This is one of the traditional ways to prepare this wild edible plant. Always ensure proper plant identification before cooking.
Edibility
Harvest Calendar
Nutrition (per 100g)
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, Dried fruit Storage: Refrigerate fresh parts
Recipes
- Eat fresh when dark purple and soft
