Malunggay Tea

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Malunggay is a widely cultivated plant in the Philippines. Its scientific name is Moringa Oleifera. This plant has been praised for its health benefits. Almost all parts of the tree are eaten or used as ingredients in traditional herbal medicines. Malunggay is a very nutritious plant and its benefits have been acknowledged by nutritionists, dietitians, and nutrition researchers. Considered a miracle plant, the tea derived from the leaves of this tree has high levels of flavonoids. These are antioxidants that can help detoxify your body and strengthen the immune system. If you are lucky to have a Malunggay tree in your backyard, then you will be able to easily make tea with the plants' leaves and reap its full nutritional benefits.

METHODS

These are the steps in making a Malunggay Tea.

1. Harvesting of leaves
2. Sorting
3. Air Drying
4. Crushing
5. Pan drying
6. Storage/Packaging
7. Brewing

RESULTS

We chose twenty parents to try the tea for a week. These parents were complaining of pain in their legs and feet. They were having difficulty in walking. After testing it for a week, they were amazed by the effect on their bodies. They said the pain lessened and they hardly feel the pain while walking.

DISCUSSIONS

The very first thing to do is to collect and harvest fresh leaves of Malunggay. We picked the greenest and mature leaves. Remove those leaves that are yellowing. Remove dust or cobwebs. Carefully picked and removed impurities such as dirt, twigs and small insects. After sorting and cleaning the harvest, place the leaves in a larger flat container like a tray for air-drying. Place the container in a shaded and cool area for about three days. Place the pan over low fire and allow it to get warm. Pour the dried leaves into the pan and continuously turn them over for about three minutes. Quickly remove the completely dried leaves from the pan and place them in a clean open container to cool. Put the dried leaves in tea bags, presto they are ready for brewing.