New Zealand spinach + Soursop

Tetragonia tetragonioides (or previously T. expansa) is a leafy groundcover also known as New Zealand spinach, Warrigal greens, kokihi, sea spinach, Botany Bay spinach, tetragon and Cook's cabbage. It is native to New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Chile and Argentina. The species, rarely used by Maori or other indigenous people as a leaf vegetable, was first mentioned by Captain Cook. It was immediately picked, cooked, and pickled to help fight scurvy, and taken with the crew of the Endeavour. It spread when the explorer and botanist Joseph Banks took seeds back to Kew Gardens during the latter half of the 18th century. For two centuries, T. tetragonioides was the only cultivated vegetable to have originated from Australia and New Zealand. The species prefers a moist environment for growth. The plant has a trailing habit, and will form a thick carpet on the ground or climb though other vegetation and hang downwards. The leaves of the plant are 3–15 cm long, triangular in shape, and bright green. The leaves are thick, and covered with tiny papillae that look like waterdrops on the top and bottom of the leaves. The flowers of the plant are yellow, and the fruit is a small, hard pod covered with small horns. The plant is a halophyte and grows well in saline ground.

Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to Mexico, Cuba, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America: Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. Soursop is also produced in Somalia. Today, it is also grown in some areas of Southeast Asia, as well as in some Pacific islands. It was most likely brought from Mexico to the Philippines by way of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade. It is in the same genus as the chirimoya and the same family as the pawpaw. Soursop, raw, edible parts Nutritional value per 100 g Energy 276 kJ Carbohydrates 16.84 g - Sugars 13.54 g - Dietary fiber 3.3 g Fat 0.30 g Protein 1.00 g Vitamin A equiv. 0 μg (0%) Thiamine (vit. B1) 0.070 mg (6%) Riboflavin (vit. B2) 0.050 mg (4%) Niacin (vit. B3) 0.900 mg (6%) Vitamin B6 0.059 mg (5%) Folate (vit. B9) 14 μg (4%) Vitamin C 20.6 mg (25%) Calcium 14 mg (1%) Iron 0.6 mg (5%) Magnesium 21 mg (6%) Phosphorus 27 mg (4%) Potassium 278 mg (6%) Zinc 0.1 mg (1%) Percentages are relative toUS recommendations for adults. The soursop is adapted to areas of high humidity and relatively warm winters; temperatures below 5 °C will cause damage to leaves and small branches, and temperatures below 3 °C can be fatal. The fruit becomes dry and is no longer good for concentrate. Other common names include: Evo, Aluguntugui guanábana, graviola, anona, corossol, sorsaka, adunu, Brazilian pawpaw, guyabano, guanavana, toge-banreisi, durian benggala, nangka blanda, sirsak, zuurzak and nangka londa. In Malayalam, it is called mullaatha, literally thorny custard apple. The other lesser-known Indian names are shul-ram-fal and Lakshmana Phala. and in Harar (Ethiopia) in Harari language known for centuries as Amba Shoukh (Thorny Mango or Thorny Fruit). The flavour has been described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple, with sour citrus flavour notes contrasting with an underlying creamy flavour reminiscent of coconut or banana.