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Published

2022-02-15

Chipilín (Crotalaria longirostrata) is native to southern Mexico and Central America. This species of Crotalaria is a popular food plant in countries such as Guatemala and El Salvador. The young leaves and shoots are consumed, either alone or mixed with other foods. It grows in humid soils, open slopes, and is commonly planted in fields and gardens. Chipilín leaves are an excellent source of calcium, iron, and vitamin A. Chipilín leaves are also rich in protein that is high in lysine. This makes chipilín a good protein supplement, increasing the nutritional quality of corn or other starch flour that the leaves are often prepared with. The ECHO Global Seed Bank is now offering sample packets of Chipilín seeds! 

To read more about it, click here to view a recent EDN article written by network member Andrea Guzmán Abril, Dietitian of Project CAN (Culinary, Agriculture, Nutrition)