The Most Nutritious Terrestrial Plant in The World - Moringa oleifera "The Miracle Tree"

Summary

In this informative video, the host introduces Moringa oleifera, a superfood tree native to India, which thrives in Florida's sandy soils. Known for its resilience and high nutritional value, Moringa boasts more iron than spinach, more vitamin A than carrots, and more calcium than milk. The host shares his journey from a standard landscaper to an edible landscaping enthusiast, selling thousands of Moringa trees and promoting its benefits. He also mentions ECHO's work in combating malnutrition with Moringa in third-world countries and suggests growing it as an annual in colder climates for a quick harvest.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The Moringa oleifera tree is considered the most nutritious terrestrial plant in the world.
• 📚 The speaker's interest in edible landscaping began after discovering the Moringa tree in 2010-2011.
• 🌳 Moringa is native to India and thrives in Florida's sandy soils, showing resilience even after extreme cold.
• 🌿 The tree is hardy and can be grown commercially with constant harvesting of its new growth.
• 🍃 The leaves of the Moringa tree can be eaten fresh, dried, or powdered as a supplement.
• 🌶 The tree has a spicy flavor, similar to horseradish, and can be used in various culinary ways.
• 🥦 Moringa is extremely nutrient-dense, with high levels of iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, protein, fiber, calcium, and potassium.
• 🌐 ECHO, an organization in Florida, is using Moringa to combat malnutrition in third-world countries.
• 🛒 The speaker initially sold Moringa trees on Craigslist, marking the beginning of his involvement in the edible industry.
• 🌱 Growing Moringa from seed is recommended for long-term strength and health of the tree.
• 💰 Moringa powder was once an expensive superfood, highlighting its value and popularity.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the Moringa oleifera tree, which is described as the most nutritious terrestrial plant in the world.

How did the speaker's interest in Moringa oleifera begin?

The speaker's interest in Moringa oleifera began when he was a standard landscaper and discovered the tree's nutritional benefits around 2010-2011.

How many Moringa trees did the speaker sell before moving on to other edible plants?

The speaker sold approximately 2,000 Moringa trees before moving on to other edible plants.

What is unique about the Moringa oleifera tree's growth in Florida?

The Moringa oleifera tree is native to India but grows like a weed in Florida, thriving in the sandy soils and even surviving extreme cold temperatures.

How is the Moringa oleifera tree typically grown commercially?

Commercially, Moringa oleifera trees are grown about a foot or two apart, allowed to grow a couple of feet tall, and then constantly harvested for their new growth.

What are some of the nutritional benefits of Moringa oleifera mentioned in the video?

The video mentions that Moringa oleifera has 25 times more iron than spinach, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 2 times more protein than yogurt, 4 times more fiber than oats, 17 times more calcium than milk, and 15 times more potassium than bananas.

What is the significance of the organization ECHO in relation to Moringa oleifera?

ECHO is an organization that works with Moringa oleifera, bringing the tree to third-world countries to help fix malnutrition issues.

Who is Kendrick and what is his connection to Moringa oleifera?

Kendrick is a friend of the speaker who runs Numa Nursery in the St. Pete area. He sells Moringa oil from the seeds, powdered leaves, teas, and is involved in a Moringa tree growers co-op in the Tampa Bay area.

What is the speaker's recommendation for growing Moringa oleifera from seed?

The speaker recommends growing Moringa oleifera from seed as it tends to produce a stronger tree in the long term compared to trees grown from cuttings.

How can Moringa oleifera be used in an agroforestry system?

In an agroforestry system, Moringa oleifera can be used as a source of biomass. If leaves are not harvested and dried, they can be chopped and dropped to return nutrients to the soil.

What is the current popularity and cost of Moringa oleifera powder mentioned in the video?

The video mentions that when Moringa oleifera powder first became popular, it was priced between $40 to $60 per pound, indicating its status as an expensive superfood.