[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
Which fruit and which vegetable in v? Essential elements of a healthy and balanced diet, fruits and vegetables are essential in many ways. They provide us with vitamins and minerals. They provide more water to the body and help in the growth and development of the little ones. Foods rich in fiber and antioxidants, they protect us against certain diseases. Today, I am interested in fruits and vegetables whose names start with the letter “v”.
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
Plant whose name begins with “v”: verbena
Verbena is the only plant whose name begins with “v”. Lemon verbena is native to Central and South America and is cultivated in Latin America, France, China and Algeria. This “v” shaped vegetable was introduced to Europe by the Spanish.
This “v” vegetable is commonly used in Europe to flavor fruit drinks, fruit salad dressings, fish soups, marinades, puddings, jams and desserts. It retains its flavor while cooking. Verbena pairs well with fruit, vanilla, and seafood dishes. You can use lemon verbena in place of lemon zest in recipes.
Virtually any fruit salad can be enhanced with its finely chopped leaves. Lemon verbena makes one of the best teas, especially when mixed with mint. It can also be used to brighten the taste of fish, poultry, vegetarian marinades, stuffing, salad dressings and jellies.
Lemon verbena is traditionally used as a diuretic and gout remedy. It helps treat inflammation of the liver or spleen, and can even help with depression. It is also brewed into tea as a home remedy to relieve colds and fevers.
Fruits whose name begins with “v”
The list of fruits whose name begins with “v” has 2 elements, namely vavangue and vanilla.
Vavangue, a v-shaped fruit
The vavangue is the fruit of Vangueria madagascariensis, a tree native to Madagascar. Vavangues are globular, smooth, shiny, yellowish-brown fruits. When mature, they are edible and highly sought after throughout the species’ range.
Although the fruits are mostly harvested from the wild, some farmers leave these trees as future sources of fruit. The fruits are marketed in Cuba, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania and Uganda.
The pulp of this “v” shaped fruit has a mild, pleasant chocolate flavor when eaten raw. Its taste is somewhat astringent and acidic like that of apples. The pulp can also be added to flour porridge and other foods to add flavor. It can also be made into juices, jellies, jams and puddings.
Fruits are an important food resource, especially in times of drought and times of food shortage. The pulp is a good source of minerals and trace elements such as potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, chromium, phosphorus, copper, manganese and iron.
Several amino acids and fatty acids have been identified from the pulp of the vavangue. These include essential amino acids such as lysine, threonine, histidine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine, isoleucine and methionine.
Vanilla
With its delicious and unmistakable aroma, vanilla is one of the favorite ingredients in a multitude of culinary products around the world.
The fruit is a pod ranging in size from 5 to 22 cm long. The vanilla beans are picked by hand to ensure they are fully ripe. It is a process that requires a lot of time and care.
Vanilla extract is mainly composed of simple and complex sugars, essential oils, vitamins and minerals. The main chemical component of the pods is vanillin. The pods also contain numerous traces of other constituents such as eugenol, caproic acid, phenol ether, lactones, aliphatic and aromatic carbohydrates, and vitispirans.
Also found in small amounts of B complex vitamins such as niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B-6. These vitamins help in the synthesis of enzymes, the functioning of the nervous system and the regulation of body metabolism.
Eating vanilla is good for your body because this “v” fruit is very nutritious, rich in antioxidants and unique organic compounds. Vanilla can help you significantly reduce cholesterol levels in your body. This is very important for people at high risk of heart attacks and strokes.