Moringa (Moringa oleifera)  tree, also known as Horseradish-tree, Ben-oil tree, Drumstick-tree is native to northern India.  Today it is also known as “The Miracle Tree” since it has many beneficial uses.  Some of it’s benefits include fighting malnutrion to making biofuel.

The organization called Trees for Life International grows them to help fight hunger and malnutrition. They have been growing Moringa trees in India as well as Guatemala, Cambodia, Nepal, Costa Rica, Haiti, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Ethiopia, Nicaragua and El Salvador.  Tree for Life sounds like a great organization. 

Moringa leaves can be eaten many ways. Photo from The Moringa Arava.

Here is what they listed under nutritional benefits:
• Vitamin A, which acts as a shield against eye disease, skin disease, heart ailments, diarrhea, and many other diseases.
• Vitamin C, fighting a host of illnesses including colds and flu.
• Calcium, which builds strong bones and teeth, and helps prevent osteoporosis.
• Potassium, essential for the functioning of the brain and nerves.
• Proteins, the basic building blocks of all our body cells.

The leaves, flowers, young seedling pods are edible. And the mature seeds can be fried and has a taste similar to peanuts. It’s advise to pick fresh green leaves and eat them like you would any other green leafy vegetable. Such as in salads or add to curries and soup like they do in India. The flowers can be fried or steamed and eaten too. And the young seed pods are eaten like green peas or green beans. The leaves can also be dried and turn into powder. The powder can be stored for many months without refrigeration, and without loss of nutritional value.

Z Naturals Foods has this to say about Moringa powder,  “Ounce for ounce, moringa contains seven times the Vitamin C found in oranges, four times the beta carotene of carrots, three times the iron of spinach, four times as much calcium as milk and three times the potassium of bananas. Moringa also contains all 8 essential amino acids and is rich in flavonoids, including Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-Sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic acid and Zeatin.”  The price starts at  $19 per pound.  Or you can take it in capsule form. 

You can also help make a gift of  growing a moringa tree with Tree for Life.  From as little as $25 when you share a gift of planting a tree.   I think this would be a great gift idea for the person that has too much.

Moringa trees grow easily from seeds or cuttings. They are suitable for growing in poor soil and bloom in 8 months. It is a very sustainable crop. More instructions for growing Moringa tree can be found from the kind people at Tree for Life here.

Healthy and green Moringa tree growing amongst the sunshine. Image source.

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