Meet moringa, one of the most nutritious plants on the planet.
Garnering attention as the newest buzzed-about superfood, the therapeutic power of moringa has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and ancient healing traditions around the world. With seemingly endless health benefits and incredible nutrient density, moringa rivals other wellness-promoting foods like turmeric, kale, and wheatgrass, and has long been celebrated in Eastern cultures for its nutritional and nourishing properties. As a key ingredient of our Organic Moringa Mint herbal tea, here's what you should know about this powerhouse plant.
What is Moringa?
Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing leafy tree native to India and is often referred to as the ‘tree of life’ because it contains an impressive array of highly nutritive components essential to human health. Rich in a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, moringa is also one of the few plant-based foods known to contain all 9 essential amino acids, making it an excellent source of complete plant protein.
While all parts of the moringa tree are edible, the delicate green leaves are the most nutrient-packed and frequently consumed part of the plant—eaten fresh, cooked, or as a natural supplement made by finely milling dried leaves into a powder. With a green, matcha-like flavor, moringa powder can be added to everything from smoothies to soups.
Widely cultivated today throughout Africa, Central and South America, and many parts of Asia, moringa is grown abundantly in the tropics and is highly adaptable to both subtropical and arid climates. Due to its nutrient density and ability to withstand severe drought, moringa has become recognized as a powerful tool for combating malnutrition and deficiencies in parts of the world where food cultivation is insecure while improving livelihoods in the developing communities where it is sourced.
Organic Moringa Mint Herbal Tea
Organic Moringa Mint is a unique herbal blend using organic moringa and peppermint, and is the perfect way to introduce yourself to this “super green”.
We source our moringa from the southern state of India, Tamil Nadu, where a network of small production, family farmers have perfected moringa cultivation over the years with their traditional knowledge of organic agriculture and continued focus on biodynamic practices and soil health. Fresh leaves are harvested by hand and sent for processing within 2 hours to retain pureness and quality.
In creating this tea, our teamakers fell in love with the distinctive flavor of roasted moringa over traditional raw moringa, which is naturally bitter in taste. Developed exclusively for Stash, our moringa is a result of close collaboration with our supplier to develop a unique roasting process. By roasting the leaf, the vegetal notes mellow, creating a smooth flavor slightly savory in character.
To deliver the specific flavor profile desired for this blend, batches of samples with varying degrees of roasting were sent back and forth for tasting, sometimes varying just 30 seconds of roasting time from one sample to the next. Through this process, we were able to customize our moringa down to the exact degree of roasting and specific milling size for an artfully crafted tea infusion.
The addition of bright Pacific Northwest peppermint uplifts the earthy notes of the moringa, creating a craveable, caffeine-free blend that brings a feeling of comfort and balance.
