• Origin: Mexico 
• Botanical Name: Moringa oleifera
• Common Names: horseradish tree, drumstick tree, jacinto, murinna, badumbo

What parts of moringa are used?

Moringa leaves are packed with vitamins and protein. Almost all parts of the plant can be used—the bark, leaves, seeds, flowers, roots, and immature pods—but the leaves are most commonly utilized. The moringa leaf can be powdered into moringa capsules or used in many food recipes. 

How do you identify moringa and where is it grown?

Moringa is a deciduous tree found in tropical and subtropical regions. The moringa tree can grow up to 40 feet tall and has thin, fragile branches that droop down. In those drooping branches are three-sided brown capsules, 20–45 cm in size, which hold dark brown, globular seeds with a diameter around one cm. The seeds have three whitish papery wings and are dispersed by wind and water.

Generally Prepared:

Moringa is an increasingly popular herb tree that produces leaves, flowers, nuts, bark and roots that are all traditionally utilized.   This herb is generally prepared as capsules and teas presently.

Moringa powder is generally prepared in 500mg capsules.

Add one to two teaspoons of Moringa powder to your smoothies.

Moringa Smoothie

Ingredients:

 1 ½ oz Swiss chard

1 persian cucumber

1 apple - chopped

1 lemon - juiced

1/2 inch ginger - peeled

1 tsp moringa

1 cup water

1 cup ice

Blend ingredients, drink and enjoy!

Usually Prepared With:

Moringa is combined with a variety of fruits and vegetables in smoothies and other beverages.  Several common herbs to mix it with are ginger, mint, nettle and turmeric.