EMBELLIR BOTANICAL: Agave Botanical in the Spotlight

BOTANICAL IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Agave

The word "agave" stems from the Greek meaning admirable.  Its nickname is "century plant" because its flowers only bloom every decade or a hundred years.

Agave is a tender succulent and should not be confused with the family of aloes.  Although, it is found in tropical zones such as Mexico, it can also be found in Europe, India, and Africa.

Medicinal Use:

The agave sap has anti-inflammatory properties.  It can be applied to burns, bites, and stings straight from the leaves.  The syrup is a natural sweetener that is said not to spike blood sugar levels.  The syrup can be found in most local stores.

The agave root has cleansing properties.

The agave produces an abundant of edible flowers annually.  When the flowers are dried, they can be chewed like sugarcane.