Ever tasted the succulent weed, sapsapon? It’s the rainy season and in many gardens, newly grown pastures, kaingin or once-cultivated areas, this weed with a drooping head enveloping its orange-red flowers, can freely grow. No need to take care yet this nature’s gift can be one solution to food and nutrition insecurity with its edible shoots and young leaves. It’s free!
Thriving in abundance, the edible weed known as ebolo, thickhead, redflower ragleaf or fireweed (Crassocephalum crepidioides) or more popularly known as sapsapon, haphapon may be called differently in different places. Banoca (2023) noted it is Okinawa spinach, probably why it is called haphapon, adding to Medenilla’s (2021) account of it playing a significant role in the survival of Filipinos during the Japanese occupation. It’s presence indicates good soil fertility (Villareal, 2023).
For a long, Medenilla’s (2021) phrase of “sapsapon is more than just a weed” has been true as many used sapsapon particularly its shoots, as a vegetable in many countries/localities and prepared differently in different places. Used for food or medicinal purposes, it has yet to be sold in local markets like amaranth or other edible weeds like snakeplant. Even animals like rabbits can benefit from the plant, even with its leaves.
Cooked in a variety of ways like pan fried, sauteed, stew or simply added to mongo guisado, Banoca (2023) described sapsapon having a distinctive pine-like flavor, with succulent, tender, fleshy somewhat mucilaginous leaves with a nutty flavor which is sharp but not bitter. Cooked or raw, it can also be served as salad green, served plain or with tomato and onion slices, or with some special sauce.
As of mid-2021, sapsapon is one of 12 indigenous vegetables to be analyzed for nutrient content. Awaiting publication of the result, it being a leafy green makes it comparable with others like spinach, watercress, alugbati, pako and other leafy greens when it comes to fiber and nutrient content. It may be a good to excellent source of many minerals and vitamins such as vitamin A (beta-carotene), phosphorous, calcium, iron and B vitamins. It may even have several healthy benefits. Can and Thao (2020) concluded that their experiment in Vietnam provided proof of sapsapon leaf wound healing activity due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, wound contraction, and angiogenesis effects. Dried leaves used as tea are claimed to have calming effects. Certainly, more health benefits may have been and/or may be reported soon.
