Thursday, February 26, 2015

More Healing. More Hope. Moringa Tea.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away?

Move over apple, there’s a new superfood in town and it has such a vast range of health benefits, you might soon forget you ever had a doctor. This superfood is Moringa Oleifera, better known as the “miracle tree” plant native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Credit: Kelsey Cherry


Though much sought-after in those regions, people are just getting to know about the health benefits of Moringa in the western world. Thistle Farms is one of the first to really promote Moringa as a healing tea. Rather than sell the leaves as an herb, Thistle Farms has combined Moringa leaves with Kenyan black tea and lemongrass, producing a delicious and nutritious herbal tea blend.


On top of that, just as Moringa has healing properties for the immune system, Thistle Farms’ collaboration with the “Moringa Madres” of Juan Cosala, Mexico brings healing to women of the two social enterprises. These women of Mexico grow and harvest Moringa tea leaves, and Thistle Farms purchases the leaves so that meaningful work and income can be provided for impoverished women in that region.




So, back to Moringa - why “miracle tree” (or miracle tea)? For starters, the amount of healing properties this plant possesses is miraculous in and of itself. 

Here are several known benefits found in the leaves of a Moringa tree:
-Increases energy

-Balances blood sugar and normalizes blood pressure
-Contains proficient amounts of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamin C, calcium, vitamin A
-3.5x more Vitamin C than oranges (per 1 cup Moringa tea)
-2x the calcium as milk (per 1 cup Moringa tea)
-2x the Vitamin A than in carrots (per 1 cup Moringa tea)
-Strengthens immune system
-Natural anti-inflammatory
-High in potassium
-Over 46 antioxidants
-Enables better sleep (no caffeine!)

Nature’s healing powers through this plant have not gone unnoticed. Recently Dr. Oz listed moringa as one of "5 Ways to Re-energize Your Day," highlighting its nutrient-density. Soon after, the Los Angeles times wrote:


“Moringa sounds like Magic. It can rebuild weak bones, enrich anemic blood and enable a malnourished mother to nurse her starving baby. Doctors use it to treat diabetes in West Africa and high blood pressure in India...and it's not only good for you, it's delicious."


With Thistle Farms’ Moringa Tea, you can be healed.
For the Moringa Madres, you can be a healer.

The Moringa Tea blend can be purchased at the Thistle Stop Cafe or online at our Thistle Farms website.

Visit our shared trade site to learn more about the Moringa Madres and our other shared trade partners.