The Aromatic Herb - Murraya Koenigii ( Curry Leaf Plant )

Murraya Koenigii or Curry Leaf Plant is a small tree, growing 4–6 m (13-20 feet) tall, with a trunk up to 16 inches in diameter. Its leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets - each leaflet 0.8 - 1.6 inch long and 0.4 - 0.8 inch broad. They are highly aromatic. The flowers are small, white, and fragrant. The small black shiny berries are edible, but their seeds are poisonous.

The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in southern and west-coast Indian, and Sri Lankan cooking, especially in curries. They are usually fried along with the chopped onion in the first stage of the preparation. They are also used to make thoran, vada, rasam and kadhi. In their fresh form, they have a short shelf life, and they don't keep well in the refrigerator. They are also available dried, though the aroma is largely inferior. Although most commonly used in curries, leaves from the curry leaf plant can be used in many other dishes to add flavor.

The leaves of Murraya koenigii are also used as a herb in Ayurvedic medicine. They are much valued as an anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-hypercholesterolemic, etc. They are high in iron and folic acid. Thus, they are good for keeping anaemia at bay. They also stimulate digestive enzymes and help break down food more easily. Thus, it is a  good remedy for nausea and indigestion.  Chewing a few leaves every day can also helps in weight loss. Curry leaves are also known to improve eyesight. So make sure you do not throw away the leaves while eating. It is also believed to prevent cataract. Curry leaves are also good for hair growth and colour. If you don’t like its raw taste, you can use dried, ground leaf powder and sprinkle it on your favourite dish or rice. This will prevent premature greying of hair.  Alternatively, you can also add a few curry leaves to your hair oil and boil it for a few minutes. Applying this hair tonic will keep your hair healthy.

My interest in curry leaves however is more in its culinary uses. Whether cooked in curries or with pumpkins or boiled with chick peas, I always find it hard to resist the temptation of their aroma or flavour. For this reason alone, I guess many people like me, would be interested to grow one curry leaf plant in their yard.


Here is how you can grow Curry Leaf Plant :

1) Only use ripe and fresh seeds to plant because dried or shriveled fruits are not viable. You can plant the whole fruit, but it is best to remove the pulp before planting in a potting mix that is kept moist but not wet.

2) Alternatively, you can use stem cuttings to grow one. 

Step 1: Cut Off a Section of Stem -> To make your cuttings, select healthy growth that is about 3 to 6 inches long. 

Step 2: Remove the Lower Leaves -> Clip off the leaves on the lower half of the shoot so that you have a bare stem to insert into your potting mix.

Step 3: Pot Up Your Cutting.

Curry leaf plant loves warm, humid surroundings and loves subtropical and tropical heat. In countries like Malaysia, it is very easy to grow even for a beginner. All it ever needs are full sun and moderate watering to thrive. Here, this plant, is hardy when matured and does not die even in the severest of conditions like drought, extreme temperatures, and infertile soil. 

Gardeners at cooler areas where winters are harsh should grow it in a container so that it can have the flexibility to be moved about. Spring is the best season for planting. Initially, it would be best to plant it in a small container and upgrade the size of it as the growth progresses. It can tolerate mild freezing temperature but needs a lot of care during winter time. For too much cold would cause its leaves to shed. And the plant would go dormant until spring when new growth will start again. Alternatively, it can be brought indoor or placed inside a greenhouse. 

Generally, whatever the climate or whether you grow it from a seed or cutting, curry leaf plant is a slow grower in the beginning. It may only grow about 6-10 inches in height, in a year (depending on the climate and growing conditions). So, do be patient.. 

Regular pruning or picking of leaves is essential to promote the fresh foliage growth. Use nitrogen rich fertilizer ( preferably bio-fertilizers or compost ) in a month or two to boost the growth especially if it is planted in a container (do not fertilize during the dormant stage of the plant, which occurs during winter time in cooler areas). Usually pests are not a great concern for curry leaf plant since the leaves are constantly being removed. If you see berries appear on the branches of your plant, you probably want to pluck them off. This will encourage new leaf growth. If you leave them on, they will turn into beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers. However, this would also mean that your plant will be putting its energy into growing the flowers other than the leaves. 

It is better to keep your curry leaf plant more on the dry side than to give them too much water. Let the soil dry out between watering. When you are transplanting your curry leaf plant to a bigger container, try not to break any roots. Add good quality potting soil to the new container as well. 

Curry leaves are easy to harvest. Simply pluck off any amount of leaves that you want for cooking. These leaves have the best flavour when they are used fresh. However, if you prefer a much lighter taste of them or simply want to get their many nutrients , you can always make some dried ones to use.

Here Is How To Make Sun-dried, Crushed or Ground Curry Leaves :

1) Select and harvest some fresh curry leaves together with their stems in the morning on a sunny day. 

2) Wash them clean and dry them under the hot sun on a wide tray until they are somewhat dried but not yet brittle.

3) Bring the tray into the house / under a shade to remove the stems.



4) Dry them further under the hot sun until brittle.

5) Crush them into smaller pieces using dry, clean hands. Put them out to dry again under the hot sun. Repeat this crushing of the leaves and drying under the hot sun a few times until the leaves are completely dried and brittle. 

6) Crush or grind them further into almost powdered or small pieces. Store them in air tight glass / plastic container for future consumption or cooking use.

Finally, hope you would enjoy this magical, aromatic herb to the fullest!