HOW TO MAKE MORINGA TEA

      The Moringa Tree or a Drumstick Tree is indeed a useful tree to have around the house. It is a common scenario to see a lot of standalone houses in South India having a drumstick tree and our neighbourhood too was no exception. The tree supplied the needs not only to the owners but they were generous enough to share the Leaves or Drumsticks(Moringa Pods) to their acquaintances as well.  So we all benefited out of it some time or the other, and even whenever we wanted it, we had the liberty to ask them for Moringa Leaves or Pods. So the supply was readily available and I don't remember buying them at all.  When my Dad built a house in the heart of Coimbatore, according to his terms... Drumstick Tree was one among the first few trees planted in our backyard along with Coconut Tree, Curry Leaves, Guava, Papaya, Gooseberry, Mango and Senbaga Poo Tree.

      Then we had our own Moringa Tree in our backyard.  My Mom who was undergoing Menopause two decades back found her aid in Moringa Leaves.  Since then she is so obsessed with Moringa Tree & Leaves. And at the same time, I was in my Postpartum that she used to cook Moringa Leaves, Flowers and Moringa Pods daily.  Whatsoever I had to eat at least a spoonful of stir-fried Moringa Leaves with a dollop of Ghee. The scenes reminded me of the one from a Tamil Block Buster Movie "Mundhanai Mudichu" by director K.Bhagyaraj who states this vegetable as an aphrodisiac. The scene was so hyped & it instantaneously elevated the popularity of Drumsticks and Moringa Tree that until the date, name of the director has become synonymous to the Vegetable.    

     When I came to Malaysia, I was literally overwhelmed when I saw a big Moringa Tree in my backyard.  Which grew taller by day and flourished into the neighbourhood by scattering its seeds around.  Now I have two large trees in my backyard, totally ignored and one day one of the trees collapsed in the storm.  The fallen tree send me into a panic, only to realize what I would do without this tree. But the tree stood loyal to me, It shot up branches from the fallen butt and I had another tree growing up from the fallen one within months.

     Though I am lazy to use Moringa leaves in cooking, I regularly pluck a few leaves for my Moringa Tea and also while tempering Sambar & Rasam. And the tree has grown so tall that even it has become difficult to pluck the pods. Cleaning Moringa Leaves, according to me is one heck of a job which takes a long time and I hate doing tedious jobs.  But my mom cleans Moringa leaves with a knack that she does it within minutes, yet to master the skill.  The tree sees its worse when it is filled with Moringa Pods, some neighbours trying to pluck Moringa Pods, would rip down the branches and mess up the tree. Leaving me to cut and clean the branches scattered in my backyard.   
      So, coming to the story of Moringa Tea - A few months back on a Sunday I slept a little late due to my usual Back Pain which made me stay awake for a long time in the night and I slept off in the morning when the pain subsided.  It's a routine to call my parents on Sundays and I stick on to specific timing for it. It was a bit late when I called them & my Mom asked me why I was late. I said about my Back Pain & immediately she asked me to drink Moringa Leaves Tea, which had helped her solve the problem. Since then and I think it is past 4 months that I am regularly drinking this Moringa Tea. Even I was asked by my Ayurvedic Practitioner to take a shower in the water boiled along with Moringa Leaves or Moringa Bark for my Body pain.   

      Moringa Tree is considered as a Miracle Plant.  Moringa Tea prepared with the leaves of this tree has high levels of flavonoids or polyphenols. These are antioxidants that can help detoxify your body and strengthen the immune system. If you are lucky enough to have a Moringa tree in your backyard, then you will be able to easily make tea with fresh moringa leaves and reap its full nutritional benefits.  I make Moringa Tea with fresh leaves and it doesn't impart any taste or flavour into the tea.  You can also use dried or powdered Moringa Leaves.  The Leaves retain most of the Vitamins & Minerals even when dried & powdered.  Moringa Tea can be beneficial in treating many ailments like body pains, arthritis conditions and also helps to reduce the symptoms of Menopause. But be sure about what you are doing and follow the Home Remedies from trusted sources.  Follow it, only if it suits you.

HOW TO MAKE MORINGA TEA

HOW TO MAKE MORINGA TEA

• Clean & wash Moringa Leaves.
• Boil 1 Cup of Water along with fresh Moringa Leaves.
• Boil it for about 5 minutes or until the leaves turn tender and soft.
• Add a teaspoon of Honey(Optional) and give a quick stir.
• Cover and keep it aside.
• Serve Moringa Tea hot or @ room temperature.
• Can Drink this as your Morning Tea or any time of the day.

• Fresh Moringa Leaves do not impart much of a taste or flavour into this Tea.
• If you cannot get hold of fresh Moringa Leaves, substitute it with Store-bought Moringa Powder.
• Moringa Powder imparts a strong metallic taste into this tea.
• Adding Honey is purely optional.  I do not add Honey or any other sweeteners while making this Moringa Tea.
• And I do not strain out the leaves.  We can also eat those blanched Moringa Leaves from the Tea.