Tag: Duckweed

The world's smallest flowering plant is also a vegetable. Known as Wolffia, or watermeal, this tiny green powerhouse has been consumed for centuries in parts of Southeast Asia and is gaining recognition as a sustainable, nutritious food source.

Some duckweed species, like Mankai, can contain up to 45% protein by dry weight, making this tiny aquatic plant an impressive potential superfood. But while its nutritional profile is promising, it's vital to understand the distinctions between wild and cultivated sources to ensure it is safe for consumption.

Capable of doubling its mass in under two days under ideal conditions, duckweed is one of the fastest-growing flowering plants, a trait that underpins its potential across various applications. This rapid growth makes it an incredibly efficient and sustainable biomass source for multiple industries.

Often called the world's smallest vegetable, Mankai is a proprietary trade name for a cultivated aquatic plant, derived from its Thai name "Khai nam" or "water egg". The definitive scientific name for Mankai is *Wolffia globosa*, a free-floating plant belonging to the duckweed family, Lemnaceae.

Mankai is a proprietary strain of *Wolffia globosa*, a species that is part of the larger duckweed family. While related, this means that not all duckweed is mankai. This relationship is similar to how a Granny Smith is a specific type of apple, but not all apples are Granny Smiths.

In a 2022 study, healthy adults consumed 170g of cooked *Lemna minor* for 11 consecutive days with no adverse effects, suggesting its safety as a cooked vegetable. This result has brought significant attention to the potential of this aquatic plant, or duckweed, as a novel food source. The question many people have is, can you eat *Lemna minor* safely, and what should be considered before doing so?

A 2017 study found that some duckweed species can have a higher protein content per dry weight than most vegetables. With the increasing interest in sustainable and nutrient-dense foods, a deeper look into this aquatic plant is warranted. So, what are the benefits of eating duckweed, and why is it considered a promising dietary addition?

According to numerous scientific studies, specific species of duckweed, such as Mankai, contain all nine essential amino acids, confirming that this aquatic plant is a complete protein source. This makes it a rare and valuable find among plant-based foods and a promising component for modern nutrition diets.