What is Noni?
Noni is a natural fruit, not a medicine, and its scientific name is Morinda citrifolia L.
The fruit is approximately the same size as a potato; yellow, but changes to white when ripe.
It has a bitter taste, and it doesn’t smell very good. Noni is generally used as a Dietary Supplement, and a lot of health benefits are attributed to it. Thousands of people around the globe are the proof of its effectiveness.
Data sheet
Scientific name: Morinda citrifolia L.
Common names: Noni, Nonu, Indian Mulberry
Origin and geographic distribution:
Panama, mostly in the areas of Bocas Del Toro, Colon, and San Blas.
Outside Panama: Antilles (general), Asia, Central America (general), Oceania (including Australia).
Status and Economic importance:
Found in the wild and commercial farms. There is a nutraceutical market for the noni fruit.
Description:
The Noni plant blossoms in virgin lands, generally near the sea; it transforms into a tree and grows up to 10 to 20 feet high. It gives fruit the whole year round, and the flower is white.
The fruit has approximately 8 cm in diameter, from yellow to white and the pulp is brown and dense.
Applications:
The fruit is famous in Panama (and other countries) for its health benefits.
Noni is used for consumption under the following forms: juice, nectar, tablets, capsules and tea.
Analysis have shown that it is rich in elements basic to humans, like:
- Fiber
- Proteins
- Iron
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Zinc