325,636
edits
Difference between revisions of "Okra"
→News About Okra
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
==News About Okra== | ==News About Okra== | ||
'''From the Ground Up: Too much okra in the garden? Make coffee''' | |||
*Source:http://www.dnj.com/story/life/2016/07/15/ground-much-okra-garden-make-coffee/86995486/ | |||
:By Mark Murphy (For The Daily News Journal) | |||
Okra is a crop that is easy to grow in the home garden. It is a rugged plant rarely bothered by pest or disease issues, and it stands up well to summer heat and drought. The plants can grow quite large, so the crop requires a bit of space in the garden, but six-eight plants will likely satisfy the needs of the average family. | |||
Okra is related to hibiscus and produces large flowers that are quite ornamental. Those flowers transform into the seed pod that we harvest for gumbo, fried okra and other delicious dishes. | |||
Once okra plants begin producing pods, they keep coming in abundance throughout the summer growing season. At some point, many gardeners find that they have eaten all the okra they can, given away all they can, and they’re still faced with an avalanche of okra. A novel use for that extra okra is to save a supply of pods to make a warming beverage when cold weather arrives — okra coffee. | |||
During the Civil War, the Union blockade made coffee scarce in the South. This led to experimentation with various substitutes for coffee, including persimmon seeds and chicory. One such substitute that gained considerable support was okra. In December 1861, The Tennessee Baptist newspaper wrote, “We have been somewhat skeptical about the various substitutes that have been proposed for coffee. We have tried the okra coffee, and had we not known it to be okra, we should have supposed it the best of Laguyra or Java. It has all the rich spicy aroma of the genuine article ...” | |||
In my opinion, okra coffee does not taste exactly like the imported counterpart. I would describe the flavor as having fruity and earthy tones that differ from standard coffee. However, the flavor is very satisfying and fresh, likely due to the fact that the okra didn’t travel hundreds or thousands of miles to get here. | |||
To brew your own okra coffee, let the pods grow to maturity or save some that have simply grown too large and woody for fresh eating. Allow time for the pods and seeds to get dry. The pods will become brown and brittle, and you may hear the seeds rattle inside when shaken. Remove the seeds and toast them in a skillet on medium heat. Stir frequently for about 10 to 15 minutes. You want to parch the seeds, but don’t burn them. Some of the seeds may pop. Allow the seeds to cool and then grind them. Note that the okra seeds will be brittle and will grind faster than coffee beans. Brew (in the same manner as standard coffee) and enjoy! | |||
Okra coffee does not contain caffeine; possibly being a reason why it never supplanted imported coffee. But, now you can amaze your friends when you tell them that you grew your own coffee ... okra coffee. Garden on! | |||
---- | |||
'''What Is Okra (Lady's Finger) And 6 Benefits Of Adding The Medicinal Vegetable To Your Diet''' | '''What Is Okra (Lady's Finger) And 6 Benefits Of Adding The Medicinal Vegetable To Your Diet''' | ||
*Source:http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-okra-ladys-finger-and-6-benefits-adding-medicinal-vegetable-your-diet-350750 | *Source:http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-okra-ladys-finger-and-6-benefits-adding-medicinal-vegetable-your-diet-350750 | ||