| I am trying to locate callaloo seed. I ate the greens in Jamaica and think it would grow in Mississippi if I could find seed. Can you help? |
| Wow. We had a hunt in our office here for any reference to callaloo. We all think we've heard of it...but can't find any sources. Here are a few leads: One dictionary described callaloo as a green in the genus "Xanthosoma". (Another said it was a stew made out of greens and crabmeat.) I wonder if callaloo is actually a type of green, or is just a common term for a group of cooking greens used in that dish. I found one plant, Xanthosoma brasiliense, common name Tahitian spinach, that is native to the West Indies. The leaves are cooked as greens. I couldn't find this specific plant in any of my catalogs, but one company, Seeds Blum (ph# 800-528-3658, e-mail: [email protected]) has what sound like they might be similar greens, including mountain spinach/orach and malabar spinach. You might contact them to inquire if they have heard of callaloo. Other companies to try are: Bountiful Gardens, ph# 707-459-6410, e-mail: [email protected] Seeds of Change, ph# 888-762-7333, web site: www.seedsofchange.com Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, ph# 804-973-4703, web site: www.southernexposure.com Nichols Garden Nursery, ph# 541-928-9280, web site: www.pacificharbor.com/nichols/ Native Seeds/SEARCH, ph# 520-327-9123; web site: http://desert.net/seeds/home/h... I checked these companies' catalogs and didn't find callaloo, but they all feature native and/or unusual seed so they may be able to direct you to a source. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. If you do find any information about callaloo, I would really appreciate it if you would send it on to me. Now you've got my curiosity piqued! |
