Agave, Century Plant

Where does Agave grow?

Found in: Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Britain, Central America, China, East Africa, Ecuador, Eswatini, Europe, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kiribati, Korea, Lesotho, Mediterranean, Mexico, Myanmar, Nauru, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, SE Asia, Slovenia, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, Swaziland, Tasmania, Turkey, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Notes: There are about 250 Agave species. The Agavaceae are mostly in the tropics and subtropics. They are usually in dry rocky regions. The sap contains 12-15% sugar.

Status: It is sold in local markets.

Growing Agave, Century Plant

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. Seed should be sown on the surface and germinate in 1-3 months at 20°C. The seedlings should be grown in a sunny position until 20 cm tall. Plants can also be grown from offshoots.

Edible Uses: The heart of the plant can be eaten after baking. It is sweet but fibrous. The tender shoots are eaten raw. The seed is ground into flour and used to thicken soups. The flower stalk can be roasted and used like asparagus. They are also used to make wine. Sap from the cut flowering stems can be used as a syrup. This is called 'pulque' in Mexico. The flowers are cooked as a vegetable.

Production: The flower lives for a number of years without flowering but dies once it does flower. It normally dies after 20 to 30 years. Suckers however continue to grow. Suckers flower after 15 years in warm climates. The young flower is removed creating a trough like depression in which sap collects. It is drained out daily over several weeks. The yield can be 3-5 litres per day and a total of 800 litres of sap.

Nutrition Info

Agave, Century Plant Photos

References

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