Aloe vera has been used for some time past in green smoothies, shakes, cocktails, ice cream, desserts and for some other purposes, although the plant is said to be poisonous. But the laxative aloin, which, inter alia, – in extreme cases – can result in life-threatening electrolyte and water losses, is only found in the yellowish juice under the leaf bark.

When the gel (the water storing tissue of the leaves) has been carefully processed, it is harmless. It contains several mono- and polysaccharides as well as water-soluble vitamins.

The cosmetics industry has been using Aloe vera for a very long time in skin care products. During a holiday in Vietnam, I have been able to treat a sun burn with fresh aloe gel. The hotel has grown Aloe vera in its own organic garden and they prepared a leaf for the skin treatment; at least the gel was refreshing.

• Edible Leaves (without leaf bark!)
• Culinary Group Leaf vegetables
• Taste neutral
• Trivial Names Echte Aloe, Aloès des Barbades, Aloès amer, Mazambron, Alwè
• Size 30 cm
• Taxonomy Asphodelaceae Aloe vera
• Origin Near East (Map)
• Locality Palmengarten Frankfurt (FRP) 2016