A vegetable coming from Brazil that has very peculiar organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. This is the Couve Manteiga and the agronomist Gabriele Evangelisti imported it. Now, he is farming it. Last Friday he brought some of it to the Cesena market, and it quickly sold out.
Evangelist explains, “If you taste it once, you want it again. That is what happened to me after a trip to the south American country. It is extensively cultivated there, and it is one of the basic ingredients of the bean dish. It can be consumed in many ways, but I prefer to eat it as a salad, finely cut and seasoned with oil, salt and lemon”.
The agronomist started farming with certified seeds bought in Brazil. From an agronomic standpoint, the plant adapted fairly well to the environment. Evangelisti started harvesting the first leaves in June. It is cruciferous, like cabbage and broccoli. However, the plant requires some care. The fertilization must be done a couple of times per year – better if organic. The irrigation is crucial to obtain a luxuriant plant with a large quantity of leaves.
The agronomist-farmer continues, “Like every cruciferous, it suffers from some parasites. For instance, I fight the cabbage larvae with an organic method. That is, I use the Bacillus Thuringensis and I am able to repel the insect easily”.
Evangelisti concludes, “This variety is particularly suited for the raw consumption, but I also farm another variety more suited for cooking. The Couve Manteiga has peculiar nutritional characteristics: it provides vitamin E and antioxidant, thus contributing to the reduction of free radicals. The plant has minerals, such as phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. Some studies show that the consumption of this vegetable – as other wide green-leaved plants, also – helps to keep the brain young. Additionally, the Couve Manteiga is an excellent detoxifier and you can make infusions and extracts out of it”.
Info:
Gabriele Evangelisti
Via Garampa 1095
47522 Cesena (FC)
Tel.: +39 346.3245132
Email: gabrieleeva@tiscali.it