Revalenta arabica facts for kids
Revalenta Arabica, also known as Ervalenta, was a special powder sold a long time ago, starting in the 18th century. People believed it was a great health food that could help sick people get better and feel stronger.
However, the product that was sold to many people was actually just a simple powder made from common lentils. Its name, "Revalenta Arabica," was made up to sound fancy and hide what it really was. The name came from an older scientific name for lentils, Ervum lens, with the letters rearranged. While lentils are indeed a healthy and nutritious food, Revalenta Arabica was not much different from regular pea flour, which is made from ground split peas. It was often overpriced for what it was.
The Real Revalenta Arabica
The true Revalenta arabica is actually the root of a plant called Glossostemon bruguieri. These roots were sold under the name Arabgossi. In Egypt, people know them as Moghat.
For a long time, no one knew what plant the original product came from. Then, a German explorer and botanist named Georg August Schweinfurth discovered that Glossostemon bruguieri was the real source. He was exploring Africa and found the plant.
How the Plant Was Used
The roots of Glossostemon bruguieri are prepared as a light and easy-to-digest dish. People often gave it to those who were feeling sick or unwell. The plant and how it was used were described a very long time ago in a book called Firdous al-Hikmah ("Paradise of Wisdom"). This was a medical encyclopedia written in the 9th century AD by Ali ibn Sahl Rabban al-Tabari.
