About Moringa

Moringa is a multiuse tree with great benefits hidden in every part of it right from root to bark, leaves, flowers and seeds. Moringa is becoming famous all over the world because of its richness in minerals and Vitamins. Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin C and Amino acids are found in abundance in Moringa. The fresh leaves are used like Spinach while the dried ones are powdered and consumed. Some also use it to make their tea nutritious. The Kernel inside the seed are usually consumed whole and sometimes they are crushed to extract oil (ben oil). The Moringa seed oil is mostly used as a base to cosmetic products but can also be used on your physique to reduce inflammation.

Moringa leaves

The most nutritious part of the plant, leaves can be eaten as spinach or powdered and added to sauces and soups. They are rich in vitamins (B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K, beta-carotene), minerals (calcium,magnesium, iron, potassium) and proteins.

Moringa leaves have been used in some parts of the world as an affordable way to combat malnutrition. They have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and are also known to treat diarrhea.

Applied to the skin, they help wounds and bites heal, and help relieve some skin conditions. Due to the high iron content, moringa leaves have been traditionally used to cure anemia.

Processing

Processing starts immediately after harvesting and transporting the leaves to the processing point.

1. Stripping the leaflets: The first step is to strip all the leaflets from the leaf petiole. At this stage, diseased and damaged leaves are discarded.

2. Washing: Leaflets are washed in troughs using clean potable water to remove dirt. Again washed in 1% saline solution for 3-5 minutes to remove microbes. Finally washed in clean water. Leaves are now ready for drying.

3. Draining: Water is strained from the leaves in buckets that have been perforated, then leaflets are spread on trays made with food-grade mesh and left to drain for 15 minutes before taking them to the dryer

4. Drying: Drying is done with the help of well-equipped solar dryer

5. Milling: Milling takes place once the leaves are dried

6. Drying the leaf powder: Moringa leaf powder strongly attracts moisture and the product can reabsorb humidity during or after milling. For this reason, moringa leaf powder should be dried at 50ºC for 30 minutes to reduce moisture content considerably below 7.5%.