Plant atlas Short
Cha-om: Thailand's Thorny Omelette Herb
Climbing Wattle · ชะอม · Acacia pennata
Climbing Wattle — ชะอม (cha-om) — Acacia pennata.
The young leaves must be cooked before eating. In rats, Acacia pennata leaf extract reduced DNA-damage and ROS markers. The tender leaves also carry the ordinary leafy-green mix: beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, iron, calcium, and fiber. Khai Jiao Cha-Om folds the leaves into whisked eggs and fries them until the edges crisp, served hot with a fermented shrimp-paste chili dip. Gaeng Som Cha-Om Goong cuts the same omelette into squares and simmers it in a sour tamarind curry with shrimp, spooned over jasmine rice. Fry the leaves with egg or a little oil, since that fat helps your body absorb their vitamin A. If you grow it from a cutting, give it a trellis to climb, and handle the shoots with care: the branches carry small, sharp thorns. Follow Longevity Biome for a new Thai plant every day.
Thai Cha Om Omelette — ไข่เจียวชะอม (kai-jeow-cha-om)
Kaeng Som Cha-Om Kai — แกงส้มชะอมไข่ (kaeng-som-cha-om-kai)
Source: El-Taher EMM et al. (2022). Acacia pennata leaves & DNA damage/ROS in rats. Adv Trad Med. DOI:10.1007/s13596-020-00527-6
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Rich in: beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, iron, calcium, fiber
Research context
Acacia pennata leaves showed antioxidant / free-radical-scavenging activity in animal studies — Adv Trad Med, 2022