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Island cabbage (Aibika/Bele)

Island cabbage, or aibika/bele, is an edible leafy Pacific plant used cooked in stews and other savoury preparations.

Island cabbage Aibika — illustrative ingredient image

About Island cabbage (Aibika/Bele)

Island cabbage, also called aibika or bele, is the edible leafy plant commonly used as a vegetable in parts of the Pacific. The leaves are cooked in stews and other savoury preparations, and are generally tender when cooked, with a mild leafy flavour. The name is associated with the plant’s edible leaves rather than a cabbage head.

Leaves may be eaten young or mature, and stems can also be used depending on local practice. They are typically green and soft-textured after cooking; preparation and maturity affect texture. Nutrition comparisons should identify whether the measurement refers to raw leaves, cooked leaves or stems, since cooking and draining change water content and the edible portion.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where island cabbage (aibika/bele) appears

2 linked foods

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Main dishes

Sides

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for island cabbage (aibika/bele)

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

aibika

English

bele

English

Island cabbage

English

Bele leaves

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Island cabbage (Aibika/Bele) nutrition & diet

Island cabbage (Aibika/Bele) nutritional value

Reference: Edible Hibiscus, leafy vegetable, raw

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
19kcal
Protein
0.0g
Carbs
0.0g
Fat
1.8g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Raw and cooked leaves, and leaves versus stems, are different measurement bases; cooking and draining alter water content.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: New Zealand FOODfiles 2024 — X312 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .