Purslane: Worldwide Phenomenon

   Although Purslane originated in India, it has traveled far and may be found in menus around the world. Maybe purslane's pervasiveness can be attributed to its nutritional profile and ease of cultivation. Its tart and tangy flavor adds an unique taste when included in salads. Purslane has many names around the world but its value as a food remains the same.

   In Israel, purslane is served with other greens under the name of "regelah," the Egyptians call it "rigla," and the Russians serve it up as "portulak." The Greeks call purslane "glistrida" and the Turks know it as "semizotu." Mexicans eat purslane under the name of "verdolaga" and the French refer to it as "pourpier." In Central Oman, it's time for "farfena."

   In the Far East, the Japanese have been known to pickle "suberi-hiyu" and the Malaysians enjoy their "gelang pasir" raw. Filipinos call it "Ngalug" and the Chinese refer to it as "Ma Ch'ih Hsien." In its country of origin, the Indians have different names for purslane including "kulfa," "lunia," "garo," "punarva," and "sanhti."

   Back in the United States, purslane has many names including hogweed, pigweed, pursley, and wild portaluca. Its scientific name is Portulaca oleracea.

Questions and Answers

1) Why can't I find purslane at the supermarket?
   In the United States, purslane still has the stigma of being a weed despite its healthful and nutritious properties. Gardeners with flower beds and fruiting trees who spot purslane tend to act violently towards the hapless little plant. This reminds us of the time we saw a farmer uprooting beautiful and majestic sunflowers from his land. When we asked him about it, he said sunflowers steal resources from his crops. So, for the same reason that most supermarkets don't sell dandelions in the produce department, they won't sell purslane because the perception of the plant is negative. Purslanekit is on a mission to change that.   

2) I can't wait for my purslane to grow and I want to eat them now!
   Small farmers markets may carry purslane so check your local markets for availability during the summer. If you reside in the Northeastern United States, finding purslane available for sale during the winter months probably won't be possible since purslane abhors cold weather. In the meantime, purslane grows quickly and abundantly in hot weather once it's established so a few plants will feed you well over the course of the summer.

3) How about greenhouse and hydroponically-grown purslane?
   That's a possibility but be aware that most growers tend to raise crops that will bring them a monetary return for their time and investment. Purslane as a crop isn't proven yet in the USA marketplace and American farmers will have to be convinced that there's a ready market for purslane before they'll allocate resources to growing the plant as a cash crop. Remember, they also still think of purslane as a weed that should be destroyed rather than cultivated. 

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