FAMILY :: RUTACEAE
$150 pesos (small seedling)
Curry Leaf Tree, Kadi Patta, Sweet Neem Leaves:
This is a small tree or large bush that grows well in full or part sun. It produces small, self-polinating, white flowers that produce small black drupes containing a single, large seed. The berry pulp is edible, with a sweet flavor but it is the leafs that are used in cooking.
It likes well-drained soil and temperatures above 18 C or 65 F for best growth and grows well here in Vallarta, although it can go semi-dormant in the winter. Fertilize lightly with a high nitrogen fertilizer when young and more heavily when older. Since it is related to citrus, it can also use citrus fertilizer. It is a slow grower the first 2 years.
This is the true curry leaf plant. It is native to India and is widely used in Indian cuisine. Culinarily, the leaves are cooked in coconut oil and the oil is used. The leaves are also used as a herb in Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine in which they are believed to possess anti-disease properties. It is said that a single leaf chewed will settle a jumpy stomach or dispel morning sickness. (there is no western confirmation of these properties). For more information on the medical uses of this plant, please see Curry Leaf Health Benefits (from Healthline.com).
Do not confuse this plant with a commonly available nursery plant, Helichrysum italicum, which is sold as curry plant. That plant is not the real thing and those who are selling it as such are either ripoffs or ignorant.
MORE INFORMATION
- https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/parmar/12.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070712/