Curry tree

Curry Tree ( Bergera koenigii )

The Curry Tree ( Bergera koenigii Syn: Murraya koenigii ) is a plant which belongs to the Rue family ( Rutaceae ). The leaves of this native to Asia type, called curry leaves are used as a spice. They are used mainly in the Sri Lankan and South Indian cuisine widely used in vegetarian dishes. Curry powder is not made ​​of curry leaves.

• 7.1 Notes and references

Dissemination

Bergera koenigii is native in tropical to subtropical Asia, especially on the Indian subcontinent up to the foothills of the Himalayas and in Sri Lanka. Its distribution area now ranges from Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam to China. Bergera koenigii growing at altitudes up to 1500 meters. In India, it is grown mainly private, but also cultivated commercially on a small scale.

Description

Bergera koenigii growing a tree or shrub, reaching heights of growth of 4 to 6 m. The crown is wide and 4 m. The tribe has a dark gray bark and reached a diameter of 40 cm. The dark green leaves are imparipinnate with 11-31 leaflets. The main feature of the leaflets is the wrong set- Spreitengrund; they are ovate, 2-5 cm long and 0.5 to 2 cm wide. The leaf margin is smooth to notched.

Many flowers are borne in terminal, paniculate inflorescences. The small fragrant flowers are fünfzählig. Five oval sepals are smaller than 1 mm. The five white petals are 5 to 7 mm in size. There are two circles, each with five stamens present. The scar is capitate.

The small, shiny, black - purple fruits are 1 to 1.5 cm in size, sweet and edible. However, they contain one or two poisonous seeds that are dispersed by birds.

System

This type is assigned to the genus since 2006 Bergera. Before you counted it to the genus orange diamonds ( Murraya ). Under the name Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. is it still in most literature. Another synonym is Chalcas short koenigii (L.).

Use

Use in the kitchen

The aroma of curry leaves is fresh, slightly fruity and smoky. They are popular in vegetarian South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine. Since the leaves are thin, they do not need to be removed from the finished dish, but be eaten. Due to their round and simultaneously distinct flavor used in many dishes as a seasoning along with salt and chili. Usually you fry them first in hot oil or ghee ( clarified butter ) in a pan before you add the other ingredients are. Diced, fried paneer ( Indian cheese ) applies so without further spices as tasty. In other dishes, curry leaves are combined with coconut and tamarind. Popular spice combinations are, for example, curry leaves with chili and black mustard seeds for dal ( lentils ) or curry leaves with finely grated coconut meat, tamarind and chili for rice dishes. In India, one can curry leaf powder ( not to be confused with Western curry powder) ready to buy. This is from a seasoning powder in fat fried, crushed curry leaves, which is used for the enrichment of rice dishes, parathas ( stuffed flat bread ) and much more. Its flavor is less intense than that of the fresh leaves. Curry leaves can be brewed as a tea.

Medical use

In Ayurveda, the traditional Indian herbal medicine, see the leaves, the bark, the root and the fruit of the curry tree, so all plant parts except the poisonous seeds, use. The range of applications is wide:

• Gastrointestinal tract: Against diarrhea or bloating should be several times daily grind a blade ( pinnate leaves with stems ) and drink in buttermilk. Counter upset stomach and indigestion curry leaves are pounded with ginger and mixed with potassium chloride to rice.

• Hair Opposite premature graying the same mixture is applied to the hair, in addition to an abundant consumption of curry leaves. In coconut oil boiled leaves are used as a hair restorer.

• Eczema: An infusion of crushed curry leaves and turmeric is applied to the skin are effective against eczema.

• Diabetes: For the prevention of hereditary diabetes and treatment of diabetes due to obesity are in the morning for three months ten curry leaves are eaten.

• Kidney disease: Comparison kidney disease is made from the roots a juice.

• Eye Diseases: For radiant eyes and to prevent cataracts fresh curry leaf juice is dropped into the eyes.

• Insect bites: Against Insect bites the juice of ripe, purple curry tree berry is mixed with lemon juice and applied externally.

These traditional forms of application are now examined in modern laboratories on their commercial feasibility through. It is found that the curry tree contains several medically active substances. Experiments on laboratory rats have demonstrated that an aqueous extract of curry leaves actually lowers blood sugar levels and is hence suitable for adjuvant treatment of diabetes mellitus.

In the bark of the tree trunk antimicrobial alkaloids have been found.

Others use

The essential oil of the leaves is used for perfuming soap.

The wood is sometimes used for wood carving.

Naming

The name Curry leaf has been taken from the English curry leaf into German. In many Dravidian languages ​​of South India the name of the curry leaf begins with Kari, what is being said like the English word curry, but has a different meaning:

• Kannada: " darker Niem " = Karibevu ( ಕರಿ ಬೇವು )
• Malayalam: " black neem " = Kariveppila, Kariveppu ( കറിവേപ്പില, കറിവേപ്പ്, കരിവേപ്പില )
• Tamil: Kari Vempu, Kariveppilai ( கறி வேம்பு, கறிவேப்பிலை )
• Telugu: Karivepaku

In this name, the similarity of curry leaves shows with those of the neem tree ( Azadirachta indica). The latter are also feathered, but significantly larger and of a lighter green. The fruits of the neem are not black and sweet, but yellow and bitter.

In the north Indian linguistic area references can be found in the name of the curry leaf also on the Niem:

• Sanskrit: " sweet- scented Niem " = Surabhinimba or " mountain - Neem " = girinimba ( गिरिनिंब )
• Hindi: " sweet neem " = Mitha Nim ( मीठा नीम )

The specific epithet honors the German -born botanist koenigii Johann Gerhard König (1728-1785), a pupil of Linnaeus, who spent as a naturalist and missionary doctor in south-east India the last 12 years of his life, in what is now the state of Tamil Nadu.