Lemba

Lemba is a perennial shrub and distributed widely in Malaysia. Easily mistaken as ground orchids or young palms, the leaf of this plant was traditional used for wrapping rice cake and fruits are eaten fresh. The Latin name for Lemba is Curculigo latifolia L. and belongs to the Family Hypoxidaceae. Ironically, the taste of the fruit is not sweet rather sour. However, after eating the fruits, food consumed after will taste sweet. The chemical responsible for the sweetness is a protein called curculin.