Sesbania Flowers

Sesbania flowers — most commonly from Sesbania grandiflora, known as the vegetable hummingbird tree or agati — are large, striking blossoms that are white or red and surprisingly meaty in texture. They’re eaten as a vegetable in parts of Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific, where the trees grow abundantly.

The flowers have a mild, slightly bitter, mushroom-like flavour and a tender, succulent texture. They’re typically added to curries, soups, stir-fries, and salads, or dipped in batter and fried. In Thai cooking, they’re commonly used in coconut-based curries and omelettes.

In Australia, sesbania flowers are a niche ingredient found occasionally at Asian grocers or farmers’ markets in tropical regions like Far North Queensland. The trees themselves grow readily in northern Australia’s climate.