We Tasted The Next Superfood (It's Not What You Think)

Move over, turmeric. There's a new superfood: moringa.

NPR just likened it to kale, and said its nutritional profile "rivals [that of] milk and eggs." And the Clinton Foundation recently funded an initiative to bring the fast-growing tropical crop to more American shelves.

The leaves of the moringa oleifera plant are packed with nutrients, and recent studies attest to the healing properties of the antioxidant-rich ingredient.

Ever the tea fanatics, our team decided to give moringa tea a try at a recent morning meeting. A cup of the green brew is said to help increase energy, balance blood sugar levels, and improve memory and mental clarity — a tall order for 9:30 a.m. on a Tuesday.

We sampled the original flavor (Moringa tea also comes in fruity varieties like lemon, orange cranberry and pomegranate) and found it to be a calming, earthy drink that packs a hit of spice.

Its strong herbal flavor made us feel like we were doing something good for our bodies, and none of us had trouble finishing our glass — a few of us even left the meeting inspired to become regular drinkers of the tea.

What is moringa?

Some say that the plant packs twice the protein of yogurt, three times the potassium of bananas and four times the calcium of milk, ounce for ounce. Ayurvedic medicine has called on the healing power of the "miracle tree" for hundreds of years, for more than 300 ailments.

So why haven't you heard of it before?

Moringa has traditionally been sold as a supplement on American shelves, but companies like Moringa Source are turning it into teas and powders.

One of the few places that exclusively sells moringa products, Moringa Source has seen a recent rise in sales as the "new era of organic and GMO-free foods has grown," Source manager Rodey Tsapralis told mbg.

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