Mmm... moringa

From roots to recipes, a nutrient-packed wonder

- Chinmay Raval

When you say drumsticks, think vegetable, not chicken. The long, dark green pods have been a familiar sight in markets and kitchens for aeons. But it's only recently that the spotlight fell on the humble drumstick, or moringa, and it suddenly became the magic wand for all things health-related. Like most fads, this over-the-top enthusiasm needs to be tempered—but it is certainly true that moringa (Moringa oleifera) is very good for health and should form a regular part of your diet, unless health does not permit, of course.

The genus name moringa derives from the Tamil word murungai, meaning "twisted pod," alluding to the young fruit. It is sometimes called the "miracle tree," though we may not have perceived it as such when chewing on the fibrous pods in our sabzi or sambar! In fact, the chewing action itself is beneficial, stimulating the salivary glands and exercising the jaw far better than chewing gum.