Although quite hard to find not too long ago, now the likes of the dudhi, chayote, cassava, and other vegetables from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean are becoming mainstream with demand rocketing at Tesco stores across the UK. And their popularity is not restricted to major inner city stores either with sales soaring in wider towns across the country.
Among the most popular in the last 12 months are:
- Dudhi – demand up by 25 percent
- Chayote – up by nearly 80 percent
- Cassava – up by more than 40 percent
- Purple sweet potatoes – up by nearly 125 percent
- Fresh turmeric – up by 80 percent
- Plantains – up by more than 60 percent
- Okra – up by 24 percent
- Sivri chillies – up by nearly 500 percent.
Top selling exotics
Among the top selling exotic vegetables at Tesco are:
Dudhi, from Asia – Similar to a courgette and great in stir-fries, added to curry dishes, or tossed into salads.
Plantain, from the Caribbean – Looks like a large banana but less sweet and is used like a potato in Caribbean cooking. Delicious added to stews or casseroles, grilled or baked.
Okra, from Africa and Asia – Delicious chopped and added to a curry, with vegetables or meat.
Chayote, from Latin America – similar in taste to a courgette with pale green, cucumber like flesh. Popular as a side dish when mixed with potato to create a chayote squash.
Cassava, from South America – A root vegetable with an earthy, nutty, and slightly sweet taste that can be boiled and mashed to be eaten as a tasty side dish.
Purple Sweet Potato, originally from Japan but now grown in North America – Richer tasting member of the sweet potato family
Sivri Chilli, from Turkey – the long, green medium-heat chillis that are commonly found in take-away kebabs.
Fresh Turmeric, from the Indian Sub-Continent – The root vegetable which has a mild, peppery flavour has become extremely popular as a key ingredient in healthy smoothies, curries and soups.
Source: tescoplc.com
