Malunggay / Horseradish Tree
I have vivid less than pleasant memories of malunggay or kamunggay from my 
childhood. Known as Horseradish Tree in English (Moringa oleifera), this tree is native to India but has spread to other tropical regions; in the Philippines, it grows rapidly and with ease in nearly every backyard when desired. The odd name stems from the fact that some Brits noticed the roots of this tree looked nearly identical to real horseradish and they used it on their beef as a substitute for the sharp original condiment – the two are not related at all. Besides the roots, the long ribbed pods or “fruit” are edible and often used in Indian curries, though the skin is discarded and only the pulp is sucked out in what is apparently a rather messy endeavor. The leaves are also edible and apparently incredibly nutritious…
As a kid I used to spend summers with my grandmother in Cebu. 
Without fail, each lunch or dinner meal would commence with her “special soup” with malunggay. Whether it had a native chicken that looked like it had spent the winter in Auschwitz, a grilled fish that was then shredded into the soup broth, or whole small sized fish, the underlying flavor of the soup and scary greenish tinge is forever burned into my memory. I did not like it. In fact, I probably dreaded it. The slimy dark green leaves had a bizarre mouth feel for an 8 year old. And worse, we basically had to finish our heaping bowl of it or we were not considered done with the meal. My grandmother lived well into her nineties and was one of the most active and healthy women I have ever known. She was also one of the first few doctors to have graduated in the Philippines in the 1920’s. You did not question her nutritional advice…full stop.
Today, malunggay is consumed in huge quantities every day across the archipelago. It is added to soups and provides excellent nutritional points for very little money. A huge bunch at the market today was just PHP5 or 10 U.S. cents. And that’s just for reference as we normally just ask for some leaves from a neighbor a house or two down the street. The leaves must be used almost immediately after picking. Just throw them into the soup at the last minute or they will overcook and even more slimy!
My memories of malunggay would consist of lots of little individual leaves floating on top of a bowl of chicken tinola. And I absolutely loved the stuff despite their slightly bitter taste.
November 5th, 2005I suddenly remembered getting allergies on my arms and legs (pantal hangin was how the oldies called them) when I was growing up. My mom would ask someone to get a bunch of malungay leaves and I’d be asked to gently slap my limbs with them (as in flagellation). True enough, the allergies would go away. I now wonder what medicinal (and dermatological) properties malunggay has.
November 5th, 2005I love malunggay with monggo! Although I remember eating it when I was much younger and thinking it doesn’t really taste that good but it’s definitely better than eating monggo with ampalaya leaves- Yuuuck! That was my choice then, so it’s no wonder i came to like malunggay.
November 6th, 2005After I gave birth to my first born, my husband would cook up malunggay soup to enhance my milk production for the baby, The soup just consisted of chicken stock, ginger, poached egg and lots of malunggay leaves. It was simple but tasty. I had it for about 2 or 3 days but I never ever had it again. Thankfully, malunggay leaves are now available in capsule form at the drugstore and that’s what I took when I had my last baby. I swear it really does increase milk production because my last child was the only one I was able to breast feed for a whole year whereas the first three babies were only able to breast feed for a week or two.
November 6th, 2005Growing up, I also hated the leaves. We eat family style and one quickly learn to dip the big spoon into the tureen in such a way that only the broth and not the leaves goes into it. Luckily my mother just let it be as long as we have some of it. She figures all the nutrition went into the soup anyway. Mostly it was done with chicken, fried fish, smoked fish and one that I wouldn’t touch at all is one with the thick buwad in it, bleech!
November 6th, 2005The best part would be to smile without knowing that a solitary malunggay leaf stuck in your front teeth. And you told them you had steak for lunch.
November 6th, 2005i always remember malunggay in “tinolang tahong” or “tinolang halaan”, good with steaming hot rice & patis…YUMMMMY!
November 6th, 2005maricel.. it is true! i read it in baby mags, in fact, it was mentioned as one of the basic food of lactating moms in arugaan (a center where you can leave your baby and the babysitters will breastfeed your babies with their own breast, of course!). And to add, you can steam malunggay just right then rub it then put it in your fresh wounds, it guarantees to easily dries up the wound and get cured!
November 8th, 2005have you tried the bunga ng malunggay? it’s also good! i’ve never tried it until my brother-in-law from tarlac used it in his pinakbet style dish. he only used the bunga(long and thin), scraped off the bark-like exterior and sauted it with pork, plenty of kamatis( about almost a kilo!),bagoong pangasinan,sibuyas and garlic. it was very good. the only water came from the juice of the tomatoes.
November 8th, 2005molly, in India, they mostly eat the fruit pod I understand. But they only eat the insides… I understand it is good. The fruit is used in Northern Pinakbets. adelle, maybe if they feed cows and goats malunggay we will get more milk? Heehee, I jest of course. Maricel, I just saw powdered malunggay the other day… carol, maybe you should patent a malunggay bath bomb that takes away skin ailments!
November 8th, 2005in Ilocos we stew the fruit in bagoong broth with mashed sweet potato and tomato . . . I have learned that few Filipinos know that the fruit of the malunggay can be eaten. . . I also remember my grandma taking dried malunggay seeds as medicine, I just don’t know what is it for. . .
November 9th, 2005Our cook had a reason why she wont serve malunggay. What pigs wont eat, we are not to eat ( and we are pure Tagalog, it’s not part of any recipe). I was a full grown adult and already in the US when I had my first taste thanks to my Ilocano roommate. Didn’t really like it. Being honest!
December 2nd, 2005please send me more information about malunggay leaves or as capsule because im going to conduct study given this capsule in laboratory rat.
February 7th, 2006thank you very much for ur kind consideration.
Please send me more information about these plants and also mainly on the Moringa oleifera seeds, I’am a dong a experiment whether the seeds have any anti-bacterial properties and jus need a quit bit of information on the nutrients these seeds has. Thanks !
February 15th, 2006Malunggay has one of the best medicinal traits it ever had. It is a very good anti-oxidant, good for artritis, lowering cholesterol and sugar.
Best of all, Masarap to sa tinolang manok ^_^
September 9th, 2006what is the kingdom,division,class,order,family,genus,species of the horseradish tree?????
September 23rd, 2006I’m a highschool student and have to conduct a science project using malunggay pods or its seeds as hamster feed but have no idea where to get them. May you please suggest where to find them?
October 10th, 2006Hi Cie, I have not really noticed malunggay pods sold in the wet markets so I am guessing that you will have to find a mature malunggay tree that is currently bearing seeds or pods…
October 11th, 2006hi just a comment regarding what you said about Malunggay is slimmy which is very wrong it is not slimmy. YOu probably referring to dahon ng saluyot.
February 8th, 2007Aila, while I would agree that saluyot is far slimier, I never ate it as a kid. I did think malunggay was slimy, for an 8 year old palate, that is… try asking an 8 year old to describe some of the more off-putting vegetables around and I am sure some pretty memorable descriptions and adjectives will come forth… I still do not like malunggay that much today…early food biases are hard to overcome…
February 8th, 2007hello!! i just wanna ask what is in the malunngay seed that it could purify water.
March 5th, 2007hi katrina, sorry, I am not knowledgeable enough about malunggay seeds to answer your question…
March 5th, 2007i was very excited coz our show with the pbb teens was approaching!!! then, guess what happen??? a week before the show, i had a cough!!!!!!it’s so embarrassing… but did you know…for that last few days,,,i ate & ate malunggay polvoron.. then.. dadaaaan!!! m cough had vanished!!! oh!! how happy i was!! that’s all…hehehehehe…..:)
March 14th, 2007I just want to know where to sell malunggay seeds and how much it cost today since few years back it was Php50/kilo. We are planning to plant malunggay in our 8 hectares land in the province of Antique… sana meron malaki
June 29th, 2007This is one of the memories of Bicol I will always love. I remember when we were kids, we would pick the leaves from the neighbors place,sometimes over the bakod! We actually liked it with soup or cooked with gata. You can tell easily just walking from the streets what they’ll have for lunch. The kids, moms and aunties were gathered around chatting, their hands busy separating the leaves from the stems. Happy rituals!
July 27th, 2007Well i was in shocked when i found out that horseradish is called malunggay in tagalog im very innocent noh?! well it is being used as side dish in grilled sausages well it taste good! German people love its so much!
August 29th, 2007is it true that malunggay leaves can increase sperm count?
September 14th, 2007what are these nutrients and how can it increase sperm count?
ruben, there was an article in today’s Philippine Daily Inquirer about that…you may want to read that. Otherwise, I haven’t the foggiest idea what nutrients are in it.
September 14th, 2007hi, i was wondering if anyone know where i can get the plant malunnggay,i love the vegetable and i want to plant some in my yard. thank you very much. starr
October 21st, 2007starr, ask a neighbor for a branch of malunggay and plant it in your garden, or from seeds pods that have matured. I have never seen it sold…it must be because it is quite common…
October 21st, 2007I was wondering if you guys know anyone who might have some malunggay tresse for sale? Maybe even some seeds?
October 23rd, 2007Thank you
DAlla
Thanks for the help…….
November 2nd, 2007Please, can you give me information about seeds in malunggay as a antibacteria for research purposes. thanks!
November 10th, 2007i am a distributor of moringa leaves in capsule for…anybody interesed to try the product.
November 15th, 2007try this link:
http://www.newstarget.com/022272.html
November 22nd, 2007Hi Camil Chua,
I need the Moringa Leaf powder capsules. Please contact me to supply Moringa capsules. My email id is virginaromas@yahoo.com
November 24th, 2007Just a note from California: malunggay has become quite available in Los Angeles now, both the leaves and the pods (Anglo/Indian “drumsticks”).
The big Philippine markets, of which we have many here now because our health care system runs on Philippine immigrants, all have the leaves and a few Indian markets have the pods.
The pod supply is not yet reliable and only a few Indian markets have them. Indian recipes aren’t very practical because they’re all geared to eating everything with the fingers which we don’t do here.
On the other hand we eat some things with the fingers. Cut the pods into 3 to 4 inch pieces, boil for 10 minutes or steam for 15, split them in half and treat them just like Artichoke leaves scraping the flesh and seeds off with the front teeth. The same kind of dips could be used. Very good.
November 28th, 2007Hi there,
I have a big malunggay tree and it has lots of seed pods. If anyone is interested in purchasing the plant from seeds or buy seed pods, let me know. My e-mail address is glamy84@yahoo.com
November 28th, 2007horseradish is a cure for losing weight?how can you drink to lose your weight?
November 29th, 2007Hi Camil Chua. I need the malunggay capsules for my breastfeeding supplement. Please e-mail me @ ella1025@lycos.com.
I asked someone to buy from the pharmacy but it was out of stocks.
November 30th, 2007Hi Jennifer,
You will need to boil the malunggay leaves maybe for about 10 minutes then you can drink it like your hot tea. I have lemon grass plants so I put one leaf also to the boling water and it makes the malunggay tea taste even better. I also include the malunggay leaves when I pour it to my cup and eat the leaves as well. They are really rich in fiber.
December 5th, 2007I am looking for some malunggay seeds or tree to buy.where can i get them?
julie
December 9th, 2007For more information on Malunggay,scientific name Moringa, try the following website: zijamoringahealth.com
January 1st, 2008Hi, am interested in selling dried malunggay leaves & seeds. I would like to know where to sell it.
Thank you.
January 7th, 2008I would like to buy malunggay tree or seeds and will they grow in my region (arizona southwest) ?
January 12th, 2008I would like to know more about the malunggay leaves use in pharmaceutical material,please give me some company that would market this product since im we have many plants in our farm.thank you,hope to get some answer eventhough its not a comment .thanks again
February 4th, 2008hi just want to ask how can malunggay use to lose weight because i’am desperate for so many years just to lose my weight and to cure my alergies….thanks for the help and advise……
February 7th, 2008lovy, sorry, I do not not know if malunggay is good for weight loss… and i am not sure about any effect it has on allergies… best to consult a medical professional, not a food blogger :), paul, I have no idea if this tree would thrive in Arizona…
February 7th, 2008Hi! I would like to plant malunggay for my 2 hectares field… I would like to know where to sell or market this.. Thanks
February 14th, 2008Joseph, I suppose you would have to get it to the local markets… but I must say, malunggay does not stay fresh for long so it won’t last… and must be sold hours after it is picked…
February 14th, 2008Hi all! I’m doing a research on moringa or malunggay’s health benefits. Here are some useful links for all of you:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/truegrowth/moringa.html
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2007/10/13/bus/malunggay.the.miracle.vegetable.html
http://thehimalayanuniverse.blogspot.com/2007/07/moringa-miracle-plant-with-many-healing.html
Recognized as the world’s “miracle vegetable, the moringa oelifera plant has been receiving numerous accolades from scientific journals and no less than the World Health Organization for its health and nutritional benefits. The moringa has been found to be rich in vitamins C and A, iron, and high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol. Moringa provides a rich and rare combination of nutrients, amino acids, antioxidants, omega oils, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties used for nutrition. Gram for gram, moringa leaves contain four times the calcium in milk, two times the protein in milk, three times the potassium in bananas, four times the vitamin A in carrots and seven times the Vitamin C content in oranges.
The presence of these vitamins makes moringa a potent anti-oxidant which can effectively neutralize unstable free radicals that cause aging. These anti-oxidants can also prevent the development of various chronic diseases such as arthritis, cancer and heart and kidney diseases. Moreover, it promotes good eyesight and digestion. It should be noted that when processed into powdery or tea form and consumed, it detoxifies the body system, cleanses impurities in the arteries and works against the build-up of cholesterol.
Because of its nutritional content, malunggay strengthens the immune system, restores skin condition, controls blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines, manages the sugar level thereby preventing diabetes, reduces inflammations and arthritis pains, restricts the growth of tumors, and heals ulcers. This information comes from Dr. Kumar Pati, an Indian doctor who is an expert in natural medicine.
Malunggay tea is now sold by a group of student entrepreneurs at the Ateneo School of Management Business Accelerator Program. Google “VLeaf Incorporated”.
February 21st, 2008hi! I’m a Chemical engineering student in ust. I just want to ask where to buy malunggay seeds because my groupmates and I needed it for our thesis that we will conduct this summer. just email me at jo_anne_navarrohp@yahoo.com. hoping for your replies. tnx…
February 24th, 2008hi guys, i’ve got great news for you. I know of someone who can provide you with malunggay leaves, seeds, powders, etc. He’s an entrepenuer & owns a plantation of malunggay in Negros. He’s actually one of our suppliers, i’m working in a pharmaceutical company. I just wanna help you guys out since our product is still under process & not yet available in the market but it will soon be. Just contact Mr. Willes Matiao 09162753483. Just say you were referred to him. He’s really very approachable & speaks Bisaya. Good luck! More power to moringa…
February 26th, 2008Just want to know where I can get mulunggay leaves eighter in tables form or fresh. I am in australia thanks
February 27th, 2008Is mulunggay leaves good for diabetic and arthris
February 27th, 2008Since I was in the elementary grades, I already love to eat malunggay leaves and fruits. Cooked not raw, of course! My late father and mother grew malunggay trees in our backyard and in our “bukid”. My favorites are tinola with malunggay and papaya-chunks. And malunggay with monggo (beans)with ginisang small chunks of pork salted with baggoong-pangasinan.
My family eat malunggay 3 to 4 times a week. Lately, I read that Senator Loren Legarda is encouraging pinoys to eat malunggay coz it is not only nutritious but also gives more power to our sperms to fertilize eggs! There you go! Eat lotcha malunggay everyday!
But, wait, overpopulation is a national problem for quite sometime! Well, let us eat malunggay for its nutritional value! Okay?!
February 28th, 2008hi where can i get malunggay capsules?
April 7th, 2008malunggay seeds are said to cure gout in three days. How do we prepare to eat them. Do we eat them dry & raw?
April 16th, 2008Hi Camil am also interested with the malunggay capsule & powder. Please send your info & contact # to my email: rocearv@gmail.com.
April 19th, 2008How does Malunggay pods work on intestinal
April 22nd, 2008parasites. Your Answer would greatly help.
thank you.
We have a mallungay tree in our backyard in Honiara, Solomon Islands. I learned that the planting stock was brought by one Filipino about 15 years ago. Now we are savouring it fruits, and leaves for our fish and chicken tinolas.. and best of all my neighbors Solomon Islanders are learning to eat the stuff. And my neigbour have planted malungay too in his backyard. A Filipino contribution, in part, to the economy of Solomon Islands.
April 23rd, 2008Presently spending part of my year in the province of Cebu, and being a former Health/Nutrition US Peace Corps volunteer years ago, I can attest that then and up until now, mallungay or kamungay as we know it is the most popular vegetable among so many and it is also my all time favorite! In soups with so many things–it can’t be beat!
May 3rd, 2008hi Camil! i’m also interested in malunggay capsule. Please send your contact infos in this email. liezlgayle@yahoo.com
May 19th, 2008hi. do you know where can i buy malunggay seeds in laguna or near laguna? i need those for my thesis. please send it to my email or just reply at my post. thank you.
May 22nd, 2008Hi, where can I buy moringa capsules ? Thanks.
May 30th, 2008Hi, can anyone tell me where can I sell malunggay leaves and seeds in large quantities.We are planning to have a malunggay plantation. thanks
June 4th, 2008hello, to those interested in malunggay products please visit www.kalunggaydepot.com, we manufacture and produce products from malunggay. thanks
June 18th, 2008hi!please give me more info about malunggay! somebody told me that malunggay is a very good for those couples whose never had a chance to have a child… we’re almost 6yrs married but unfortunately wala pa rin po kaming anak….wait ko po yong reply nyo!!!!!!!!!!!!thanks.
July 10th, 2008heeeeeeeeeeelllppp!!! we’re actualy doing a feasibility study ryt now about malunggay!!! “the powderized Malunggay” jaz wanna know the process of doing and the machines needed!! thanx…po!!!
July 15th, 2008Malunggay is now available in Australia. You can buy the dried leaves and use them to make tea or add to your cooking. If you would like to know more let me know.
July 31st, 2008Hi Maureen, I can tell you where you can buy Malunggay dried leaves in Australia
July 31st, 2008Kevin,
August 12th, 2008My mother is taking malunggay for her high blood pressure and it’s really very effective. Could you please tell me the place in Australia to buy malunggay? My brother leaves in Melbourne and he wants to buy some. Thanks.
My company has just secured the rights to distribute Malunggay in Australia, tell your brother to ring 02 4014 8000
August 18th, 2008Hi, Pls tell me where can I buy malunggay seeds. I want to plant it in our backyard. I am here in Washington State. Thanks
August 29th, 2008Hi there!Please give me an ingredients how to make a malunggay polvoron.thanks a lot and more power
September 11th, 2008Here is a place in america tha yo ucan by a mulunggay tree at. Located in Tampa, florida
www.nipahutgardens.net
Also anyone know were I can get ampalaya seeds at?
September 12th, 2008Try this: 1/2 cup fresh (raw) malunggay leaves + 1 cup water -blended and strained. Add another 1/2 cup of pineapple juice for a health drink taken 2-3 x a week. Two times daily for cancer survivors. Always make a fresh blend, to be consumed with 2 hours. Maybe this should be comparable to wheatgrass juice, which is imported from the US
September 17th, 2008hi! i’m 14 years old and malunggay or ‘kalamunggay’ as we call it is my favorite veggie. i eat it almost every dinnertime as malunggay soup with tomatoes,okra,kalabasa,and talong(actually, i really eat massive amounts of that soup and malunggay leaves,like, in one casserole i tell our maid or my mother to put 1 bunch of about 7 pieces).i eat/sip the soup before eating rice cause it makes me eat less. it’s really very healthy cause it’s extremely high in vit. c(it has more vit. c than citrus fruits or milk);it’s also high in many vitamins and minerals. when i ahve cold symptoms, i eat that malunggay soup along with many glasses of water and good sleep and the symptoms stop.
September 18th, 2008