Nalca: Chile’s Giant Rhubarb

Southern Chile is home to lush, green vegetation at every turn.

One of southern Chile’s notable plants is the nalca, or giant Chilean rhubarb.

The nalca plants grow massive leaves and can reach up to 2 meters in size (over 6 feet).

The broad leaves of the nalca make for a great impromptu umbrella or sun shade.

The nalca leaves are also used to cover layers of food in the traditional curanto, a seafood feast cooked in a hole in the ground.

Like rhubarb, the stalk of the nalca is edible and you’ll find it for sale in Chilean markets like the feria, dedicated produce markets, or even from street vendors in southern Chile. Locals will also turn the stalk into jams.

The younger the plant, the better the taste. A traditional way of eating the nalca is by peeling the stalk and then putting some salt on the end.