In our quest for highly beneficial and nutritious ingredients, we discovered a Hawaii-grown moringa with a very special story.

History of Moringa

Sometimes called the “miracle tree,” moringa oleifera is native to India and has been used across cultures and centuries for its medicinal properties and health benefits. This leafy tree has treated conditions from diabetes to arthritis, and Moringa powder is a popular ingredient in smoothies and teas. Moringa is one of the world’s most nutritious greens and is gaining popularity as a superfood rich in antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Benefits of Moringa

Moringa has 7 times more vitamin C than oranges and 16 times more potassium than bananas. It has calcium, protein, iron and amino acids which help the body heal and build muscle.  It's high in antioxidants and beta carotene that protect against free radicals.

Moringa is an adaptogen which helps the body recover from stress. As this plant gains notoriety, scientists continue to study its impact on our health and have found several tangible benefits, including the potential to:

• Improve heart health
• Lower cholesterol
• Reduce plaque in arteries
• Regulate blood glucose levels
• Stimulate brain function
• Fight inflammation

There are no reported negative side effects.  However, since moringa may lower blood sugar and blood pressure, consult your doctor before mixing moringa with medications to treat diabetes or high blood pressure.

Our Moringa Farmer

We source our moringa from Mountain View Farm — a family-owned farm nestled in Waianae Valley on the island of Oahu. Mountain View Farm practices natural farming which boosts the indigenous microorganism (IMO) count in the soil. This “living soil” eliminates the dependence on chemical inputs like pesticides and fertilizers. Natural farming also increases the nutritional value of plants and livestock. This chemical free environment is healthier and more sustainable for the farmers, the community and the livestock.

Natural farming sounds easy, but it's not. It took belief, commitment and time to stay the course when the “system” shouts to that it's easier to add fertilizer and spray pesticides. Through natural farming, David Wong ensures that 100% of their products (MVF is also one of the largest pork producers on Oahu without the use of hormones) are grown and raised in “a natural ecosystem… to maintain a nutritious growing environment.” No pesticides or herbicides touch these ingredients, and they can maintain a fertile environment that cultivates their moringa’s potent health benefits.

Teas with Moringa

We chose moringa as a beneficial ingredient because of its natural medicinal properties and have made it a base ingredient in our wellness teas. In MANA | Tea for Immunity, moringa’s antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties help maintain a resilient immune system. Moringa’s ability to fight inflammation works well with turmeric, black pepper and the other ingredients in OLENA | Tea for Inflammation to relieve soreness and swelling. OLENA is available in both tea bags and loose tea.