Myanmar Traditional Herbal Panacea
Mezali tree is a medicinal tree which Myanmar herbalists enlist in their treatises on herbal medicine as a panacea for diseases of stomach because of its slightly bitter taste and curative properties. This leafy and flowery tree grows wild in any part of the country. Its tender leaves and flower buds are edible. Soup. curry. salad or any culinary style can be made out of Mezali. Especially Mezali salad is the most favorite.

 

Ingredients

  • Some Mezali Buds about 100gm
  • 2 – 3 Potatoes
  • 2 – 3 Onions
  • Some peanuts
  • Some roasted sesame seeds
  • Some garlic
  • Some salt
  • Some oil
  • 2 Lemons

 

Preparation
First Mezali is boiled for about 20 minutes. Then the water is dripped. Some boil the Mezali for another time to make the bitterness lesser. Boil the potatoes and peel off the skin. Peel off the garlic and fry with oil for dressing. Peel off onions and cut into small pieces and wash with water. Ground the peanuts. It is prepared with boiled Mezali buds seasoned with ingredients such as ground peanut. roasted sesame. fried garlic. fresh pealed onion. cooking oil. fresh lime and salt. throughly mixed. Mezali salad is very appetizing. It is served as a side dish or a sort of dessert with hot tea.

Especially in cold season. November to February. Mezali is recommended as a medicinal vegetable for all ages.

 

Event
It is believed that on that Full moon night all medicinal properties of herbal flora are concentrated in Mezali Tree. Therefore Myanmar people eat Mezali salad on the Full Moon night of Tazaungmon. There is a legend saying that the Mezali tree was visited by the guardian God of herbal flora.