MORINGA THE MIRACLE TREE!

Edible leaves and flowers! Grows quickly with little maintenance in sandy soil. Drought tolerant! Dry leaves and flowers for tea, or substitute for oregano or parsley in your favorite recipes to add valuable nutrition.


Also known as the Horseradish Tree, Ben Tree, Benzolive, Malunggay and Drumstick Tree. Excellent feed for cows, horses, goats and humans!



The Moringa tree grows mainly in semi-arid tropical and subtropical areas, corresponding in the United States to USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10. While it grows best in dry sandy soil, it tolerates poor soil, including coastal areas.

It is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree that is native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas, Africa and the Middle East. Today it is widely cultivated in Africa, Central and South America, Sri Lanka, India, Mexico, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Considered one of the world’s most useful trees, as almost every part of the Moringa tree can be used for food, or has some other beneficial property.

• In the tropics it is used as forage for livestock.



• And in many countries, Moringa is used as a micronutrient powder to treat indigenous diseases.



• A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known vegetable has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.



• The immature green pods, called “drumsticks” are probably the most valued and widely used part of the tree. They are commonly consumed in India, and are generally prepared in a similar fashion to green beans and have a slight asparagus taste.



• The seeds are sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts.



• The flowers are edible when cooked, and are said to taste like mushrooms.



• The leaves are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach. In addition to being used fresh as a substitute for spinach, its leaves are commonly dried and crushed into a powder, and used in soups and sauces.



• Murungakai as it is locally known in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is used in Siddha medicine. Its leaves are full of medicinal properties.



• The tree is a good source for calcium and phosphorus.

• In West Bengal, India The Moringa seeds yield 38–40% edible oil (called ben oil, from the high concentration of behenic acid contained in the oil).



• The refined oil is clear, odorless, and resists rancidity at least as well as any other botanical oil.



• The seed cake remaining after oil extraction may be used as a fertilizer or as a flocculent to purify water.



• The bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds, oil and flowers are used in traditional medicine in several countries.



• In Jamaica, the sap is used for a blue dye. The flowers are also cooked and relished as a delicacy in West Bengal and Bangladesh, especially during early spring. There it is called sojne ful and is usually cooked with green peas and potato.
  
  This is just the beginning of the virtues of this Miracle tree. As you respond to this article I will seek to show you how this tree can help heal the nations.
  
  John Musser