Bhang -- My Moringa Grove!

My grove of moringa plants is doing very well.  Moringa is a superfood.  I first learned about this plant through Dr. Andoh, a first-rate botanist with an international reputation.  Dr. Andoh came to my attention when I was driving my car listening to talk radio. The radio just happened to be tuned into a conversation about Moringa Oleifera and Child Development by Dr. Kweku Andoh. Dr. Andoh was not known to me at that time but when I heard the topic, I was hooked on his presentation right way. He talked about moringa farming he was doing in Ghana Africa and the medicinal benefits of moringa oleifera.

Moringa contains 46 antioxidants, 18 amino acids, and is a complete protein. This medicinal plant is considered a “Tree of Life” due to its many beneficial qualities.  Moringa species are well known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antihyperglycemic effects. Most of this biological activity is caused by the high content of flavonoids, glucosides, and glucosinolates. Leaves are high in vitamins A, B, C & E.  Minerals include Calcium, Copper, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorus, and Magnesium.  Moringa contains low levels of oxalates, phytates, and goitrogens, relative to other plants like raw kale and raw spinach, making it a nutritious choice with minimal anti-nutrient impact.

The seeds may also be used to purify water.  Used in developing countries for nutritional and malnutrition therapy.  Moringa is a perennial in tropical regions but can be grown as an annual in more temperate zones, like Georgia and Alabama.

Dr. Andoh and I became like brothers after our first meeting.  I was focusing on my work as a psychologist when we met, but shortly after our meeting, I was back studying plants overnight, after many years away from horticulture. Growing plants, collecting seeds, collecting specimens, preserving, cataloguing, and wild plant identification became part of my life again in short order.  Kweku gave me moringa seeds to grow and I familiarized myself with the plant by growing it indoors and outdoors.  I soon became an investor in his 25-acre Moringa Farm Project in Elmina, Ghana.

Dr. Anthony Kweku Andoh was born July 6, 1943, in Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa.  This son of Agnes and Joseph Emmanuel Andoh descended from a long line of botanists, herbalists, and traditional healers. Kweku was predestined for a life devoted to the study of plants. His father Joseph was a decorated Ghanaian botanist who is responsible for discovering many previously uncharted plant species of the West African rainforests.  The story of our meeting is presented in my memoirs and in Apiary Gardens.

I dry the moringa, turn it into powder, put it in capsules and take it daily.  I also use moringa in smoothies.  I also like to make moringa latte that I call bhang!

BHANGING MORINGA LATTE

Place 1/2 tablespoon of ghee or coconut oil in a large pan on medium heat.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of ginger, 1/2 ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon of fennel, 1/2    teaspoon of anise and fry for a few seconds to release the flavor of the spices. Turn the heat down low. Add 2 cups of whole milk or a can of full-fat coconut milk. Add 1/2 cup moringa leaf to the pan. Simmer for half an hour. Keep stirring gently adding more milk/ coconut milk as it condenses down.  Add a dash of rosewater and sweeten with honey, or maple syrup to taste.  Strain and serve.

This nurturing drink was modified from the Ayurveda medicine system. Bhang has been used in Indian traditions for centuries as a beautiful remedy for the immune system and gut healing that includes cannabis.  I decided to substitute the cannabis for moringa since moringa is high in vitamins and minerals. No medicinal claims are being made here for this delicious, warm, milky drink.