There is a saying in Bermuda that the evening is the best time to swim in the ocean because the sun has warmed the water over the course of the day. Whilst warm water was the ideal temperature to swim in when I was a child, I find it undesirable as an adult.
My preference is to swim in cool water, or even better, cold water. Unfortunately, this means I have to be in the water no later than 11:00 a.m. Any time later than 11:00 runs the risk of the water being the same temperature as soup. Ugh.
I've learned and applied various approaches to staying cool during the warm months. These come in handy when I am unable to get into the ocean in the morning. Check them out.
When found growing outdoors, locust and wild honey is an unassuming vine that prefers a shady spot as it climbs. The leaves have slits and holes, hence the plant's other common names of hurricane plant and swiss cheese plant. The color of the leaf is a deep green, reminiscent of the jungle.
When the plant flowers and begins to produce its fruit, the plant turns from ordinary to slightly x-rated. Simply put, the fruit looks like a phallus with scales and it tastes like nature's candy. Others have described the taste as a cross between a pineapple and a banana. Another unusual trait of this plant is how the fruit is eaten. Once the green scales fall off easily from a fruit that has been removed from the vine, the edible, white and creamy flesh be eaten.
Only nature can produce this type of sweet and nature has a mechanism to prevent overeating this fruit. If you try to force off the green scales instead of allowing them to fall off on their own, your tongue, mouth, and throat will feel as if stuck with tiny needles. Consider this nature's way to prevent you from eating more sweets than you should.
This is a slow fruit that's eaten over a period of days. I wrap mine in a brown bag and check it daily, eating the exposed white flesh as the scales fall off. There's a hard stem in the middle of the fruit that I cut off each time I finish eating. Keep it wrapped in the fridge.
Try It Out
Cut a piece of the leaf at the stem and put it in a large vase to bring a decorative piece of green into your home. Change the water when it gets cloudy.
Place the whole fruit in a wide-mouth jar with water at the bottom and cover with a paper bag. The scales should fall off quicker.
General Benefits
Natural sweet taste
Hardy houseplant
Properties
Low calorie, Vitamin C
Caution
Unripe fruit contains calcium oxalates. Avoid eating unripe fruit.
Suriname cherry, simply known as “cherry” in Bermuda, is a shrub-like tree that produces a small fruit. The tree is used as a hedge and during the fruiting season it's commonplace for the edge of the road to turn red from fallen fruit. Cherries are easy to pick when ripe and will fall to the ground if brushed by a vehicle.
I've tasted cherries my entire life so how can I describe what they taste like without saying “they taste like cherries?” This is my attempt – cherries are tart, yet sweet. You can taste the high vitamin C content when you bite into the fruit, then a burst of sweet juice fills your mouth. The best cherries are eaten when they are fully ripe, bright red and plump. Attempts to eat orange cherries only lead to disappointment.
Cherries are small enough to be eaten in a single bite however the “2-bite taste test” is the best way to determine if a cherry bush has fruit worthy of eating. Take a bite of the fruit to taste it. If delicious, then eat the whole cherry, spitting out the pit, and pick more. If it tastes terrible, drop the cherry and find another bush. Leave those cherries for the birds.
Suriname cherries can have 2 fruiting seasons in Bermuda – Spring and Fall.
Try It Out
Cherries are so abundant, try experimenting with making homemade preserves.
Crush cherry leaves and apply to bare skin as an insect repellent.
General Benefits
Reduces fever when leaves infused in hot water with lemongrass.
Tea of the leaves can ease gastrointestinal distress, but eating too much of the fruit can cause it.
As I walked through the park, a piece of fallen limestone rock caught my eye. Looking closer, I saw what my eye had recognized, wild Bermuda mint. This mint has the tell-tale square-shaped edge stem, a signature of plants in the mint family, however, the scent is quite different than peppermint or spearmint. Bermuda wild mint has a fragrance that is distinct from the classic mints and I would describe it as savoury.
Despite the difference in scent, use Bermuda wild mint in the same manner as you would peppermint or spearmint. Mints have a cooling profile and help to relieve digestive discomfort. Use the cooling nature of mint to determine if mint is the best remedy for tummy troubles – if it feels like 'hot' discomfort, then drink mint tea for cool relief.
Mints are also uplifting and energizing. The smell of the fresh herb or a cup of the tea can provide a jolt of energy to get you through a lagging afternoon. Mint is gentle to give to children if they have gas, but it may also be stimulating to their overall systems. Try to avoid giving mint to children or sensitive people at bedtime.
Try It Out
Collect the flowers from mint and them sprinkle on a fruit salad.
Drink mint with a few green tea needles after lunch to support digestion and to give you a midday energy boost.
General Benefits
Reduces vomiting and nausea
Neutralizes acids in beans
Relieves stress and fatigue when added to bath water
Cochineal is a cactus with oval shaped, fleshy leaves that are not as aggressive looking as Prickly Pear, but it does have small needles that can cause minor irritation if they stick in your skin. It is easy to grow in a pot and I have grown my plant from simply throwing part of a leaf into a pot. When I went back a month later to use the pot for another plant, the cochineal had started to grow. I only water my potted cochineal if Bermuda is experiencing extreme drought conditions. Cochineal does not require extensive care and will thrive if you forget about it.
Cochineal water is a well-known folk remedy in Bermuda. If you break off a leaf, cut it into strips, and put the plant into a large jug with water, the mucilage will be released. The thick water is then consumed as a drink. Cochineal water is refreshing during the hot summer months, however if you have never had it before, be aware. Cochineal will have a cleansing effect on your colon which normally eases off after a week. Replace the cochineal leaf in the water jug after 5-7 days and top up the water to keep the leaf submerged in the jug.
Cochineal soothes and cools with its mucilaginous properties. I've come to know it as a superb first aid plant because the gel produced by the plant appears almost immediately when put into water. Applying the gel to a burn or wound provides immediate relief and supports a rapid healing process.
Try It Out
Pick a piece of cochineal leaf and put it in a large jug. Add water to fill the container. Drink cochineal water daily.
Identifiable by the bright blossoms and round leaves, nasturtiums are part of the landscape in Bermuda. The plant is commonly found in the garden, yard, or uncultivated areas. If unchecked, nasturtiums can become invasive in the garden, but the plant is still food. The flowers, leaf, and seeds are edible.
The taste of the leaves and flowers is peppery and there are some recipes online for drying the seeds for use as a pepper alternative. The peppery bite of nasturtium isn't overwhelming though, and it is a great introductory herb to wild food for children and adults.
Nasturtium flowers bloom bright yellow, orange, or flame red in the Spring and Summer months. The leaves can be found in various circular sizes and resembles lily pads. Creeping on the ground is where you can find the vine, but it will climb if given an opportunity.
Plant nasturtiums in your garden for an ally in minimizing bug infestations or plant diseases. If you are a container gardener, either plant nasturtiums in a pot or allow it to grow around your containers. If you garden in the earth, collect a few seeds from a plant and put them in your garden. Train the vine to grow around the plants susceptible to infes
