ABSTRACT
In some areas winter purslane is considered to be a weed. Native Americans, Spanish colonists, and settlers in California ate the leaves of winter purslane, both raw and cooked, and even used it for tea. Winter purslane now grows wild in western Europe, where it has been introduced, and it is cultivated as a minor crop in several western European countries, notably Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. The tender, juicy, succulent stems and leaves of winter purslane can be used raw in salads, and indeed this species has been described as the very best wild salad plant to be found. Some consider the flavor of winter purslane to be reminiscent of water chestnut, others compare it to spinach, and still others consider it bland. Winter purslane has been found to be equal or better nutritionally compared to most common leafy vegetables.
