Mafane leaves are edible leaves from a plant called Acmella oleracea , also known as Pará cress or electric plant . Native to Madagascar, this plant is highly prized in Malagasy cuisine, where it is used as a key ingredient in traditional dishes, notably the famous romazava , a meat stew.
Mafane greens are unique because of their mildly numbing properties and pungent flavor. When chewed, they produce a tingling or "fizz" sensation on the tongue, often described as electric, due to the presence of spilanthol , a bioactive compound. This adds a distinctive flavor dimension to dishes.
They are generally cooked, often sautéed or incorporated into broths and stews. Besides their culinary value, mafane greens have also been traditionally used for their medicinal properties, particularly for relieving toothaches and for their anti-inflammatory effects.
