Tag Archives: Asia

16 Jan

Noni, Can This Snake Oil Be Trusted At All?

General Information

Noni is one of those natural remedies that was hyped up as a miracle cure for everything to cancer. Together with MLM type sales it got a really bad reputations. But this is not fruits fault. Here are a few facts that you should know about noni. The official name for this plant is Morinda citrofolia. It has also been called Indian Mulberry. Noni is a plant that is native to the Pacific Islands, Australia and Asia. The plant grows well in the volcanic ash and rock found on many of the islands. It grows as a flowering shrub and reaches up to ten feet in height. The small white flowers grow into a yellow fruit that has a pungent odor. Because of its odor, it is sometimes called vomit fruit. The fruit grows to about the size of a potato and has been used for hundreds of years in traditional Polynesian medicine.

The islanders used the fruit for conditions such as diarrhea, constipation, infections, joint pain, menstrual disorders, urinary pain, and mouth sores. The leaves were used for wound healing and skin conditions. When heated, the leaves were used as a poultice for coughs and colic.

Because of its odor, it is sometimes called vomit fruit.

Because of its odor, it is sometimes called vomit fruit.

Superfood Attributes

A superfood is a food that is rich in components that can fight disease. Noni is a great source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants are known to help slow the effects of aging and to help avert the development of certain diseases. It also contains all nine essential amino acids. Noni fruit is also rich in anthraquinones and polysaccharides that have specific health benefits. It contains xeronine which the body uses to activate enzymes and build proteins.

Health Benefits

In more recent years, Noni has been touted to help numerous health conditions. These claimed health benefits include arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, atherosclerosis, menstrual disorders, constipation, bowel problems, hypertension, cancers, indigestion, stroke, gastric ulcers, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and immune disorders.

Laboratory research indicates that noni has tumor-fighting, immune-stimulating, and antioxidant properties. Other research shows that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells due to its antioxidant value. Another study in Germany determined that noni fruit juice can relieve joint pain and arthritic inflammation.

Noni is also shown to have anti-ulcer benefits by limiting the acid in the stomach and increasing the amount of mucous to protect the lining of the stomach. When used topically, noni can help heal burns and skin disorders.

The plant also contains a component that activates the serotonin brain receptors. Serotonin plays a role in mental health, regulating body temperature, hunger, sleep, and sexual behavior. When the body does not have enough serotonin it can develop depression, Alzheimer’s, migraines, obesity, and other diseases.

Noni is a great source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

Noni is a great source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

How to Use It?

The noni fruit has a strong odor and taste, so it is generally combined with other juices such as orange or grape to make it more palatable. To juice the fruit, remove the peel and place the flesh into a blender. Puree until it becomes liquid. Pour the liquid through a sieve and push the juice through with a spoon. You can drink the liquid as is, or mix with another juice to help improve the taste.

Many islanders eat the fruit either raw, or cooked. It is often used in a curry. To make a curry, chop the unripe noni fruit into stir-fry sized pieces and cook it with broccoli and/or cauliflower. Add curry paste and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow it to simmer for ten minutes or until the noni fruit is softened.

Noni fruit is also available in tablets or capsules.

07 May

Best Lychees For Lychee Juice And How To Choose Them

Lychees are members of the soapberry family and are native to southeast Asia and southern China. These delicate sweet fruits used to be hard to find in Western markets. Now it’s available occasionally in specialty stores. Not every lychee you see is in good condition, though. The best lychees for juicing or eating fresh are plump, ripe and unspoiled, but many supermarket fruits haven’t fared well on their trip from Asia. Choosing good quality lychees can help you get great tasting juices.

Appearance

Fresh lychee fruits should have a rosy blush to their shells. This kind of fruit doesn’t get any riper after it’s picked, so green lychees will always taste sour and under-ripe. Avoid lychees that have soft areas or brown spots on their shells, since this indicates spoilage. The fruit should feel heavy for its size. Ideally, the shell will be relatively soft and pliable, with a little spring to it. Hard, brittle shells indicate that the fruit has dried out. Shells that are too malleable or that feel mushy can indicate a spoiled lychee inside.

Lychee Fruit Quality

Inside the shell, the best lychees for juicing are moist and large. The fruit should be white to cream in color and slightly translucent. Fresh lychee pulp fills out its shell well. Any lychee that seems to rattle when shaken or that has a lot of air under the shell is old and may be dried out. Avoid these fruits. If you encounter a lychee that seems brownish or that has opaque flesh, discard it. Discolored lychees are often spoiled and will affect the flavor of your juices.

Fruits Similar To Lychee

Lychees are often mistaken for the similar longan fruit. Longans are often sold on the branch just like lychees. They also have a pale, sweet pulp inside a flexible shell. Longans are smooth-skinned with a brownish shell, however, where lychees tend to be pebbled and reddish. Longans also often have a musky flavor that’s considered an acquired flavor. They can change the taste of a batch of lychee juice and could be an unpleasant surprise for people who expected the fresh, sweet taste of lychees.

best lychees for juicing

How To Store Lychees

Storing lychees incorrectly can affect their suitability for use in your juicer. Ideally, fresh lychee fruit should be placed in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator. You can store lychees for up to about ten days, but any fruit more than about a week old starts to decrease in quality.

If you purchase lychees, make sure to juice them quickly. When that’s not possible, consider freezing the fruit for later use in the juicer. You can freeze these fruits by washing them and placing them in individual containers or by removing the shells and packing the pulp in a sugar syrup at about 50 percent solution. Frozen lychees will store for up to a year and can be juiced immediately after thawing.