Moringa

Ever since I watched the "Arogya Alai" video of Isha Rural Empowerment Initiative, I have been searching in vain for Moringa in Bangalore. It is none other than Murunga keera aka drumstick leaves.

Btw, the video is a short informative one for 20-30 mins designed specifically for people in the villages appealing to them to adopt more nutritive food in their diet instead of just rice. They specifically talk about murunga keerai, inexpensive fruits such as papaya, guava and amla and millets such as ragi/varugu.

The video is very cute with an example of a family doing well at work (fields), in school, health (not spending on doctors fees), saving money etc and crediting it to their good diet and exercise. There is also a good segment from a doctor on pregnant women's and infant babies health. Murunga keerai is talked about as an elixir containing everything essential for a human being's body and mind growth. Stats from above poster were also quoted.

More searching for murunga keera led me to the site Trees For Life: Moringa that talks about moringa and its benefits.

I searched for this keerai or soppoi (in kannada) in vain in the areas I frequent. My keerai-kaaran in Vasant Nagar 8th main said "people here dont eat this maa", "it gets spoiled quickly maa". Russell market in shivaji nagar where everything of everything is found (I suspect it has a secret Knockturn Alley too) did not have it either. However, one lady said of course its available in Bangalore. Somewhere...Yeh right.


So, this morning the teenage boy (with the paan stained red teeth) sold me one big bunch for just Rs10. In my excitement I could eat these tiny leaves right then and there.
If this constant supply goes well, it might oust the other keerais from my kitchen.