The Morus species in the Moraceae family is fairly wide ranging one with the one we grow being Morus Australis or Chinese Mulberry native to East and South east Asia.
We grow them in pots to keep the trees smaller and easier to harvest. Although we harvest the fruit, it is not as flavourful as some other Mulberry types so our main focus is in harvesting the leaves which we dry and additionally ferment for culinary use.
Culinary Uses
Short Fermented Mulberry Leaf Tea
Mulberry leaf tea is herbal tea alternative to green tea if you are looking for a green tea alternative that is caffeine free which can be enjoyed hot or cold. They have a short fermentation period, then sun dried after, yielding a more deeply flavoured tea
Long Fermented Mulberry Seasoning
Longer ferments yields more funky umami flavours - almost like seaweed or vegan belacan - so can be used in that way to flavour sauces, sit fries or even grilled potatoes and vegetables.
Wellness Uses
Mulberry leaf can be used as supplements and functional foods to prevent and alleviate metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. Mulberry leaf tea, can manage hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes.
Alkaloids, polyphenols, phytoalexins, polysaccharides, and fibers are the main bioactive compounds in mulberry leaf and they are associated with hypoglycemic, lipid, and urate-lowering activities important for the prevention and managing metabolic diseases. 1-Deoxynojirimycin and fagomine are among the alkaloids in mulberry leaf, which exhibit α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and enhance insulin sensitivity important for glucose homeostasis and hypoglycemic effect. Also, mulberry leaf bioactive compounds provide prebiotic functions to the gut microbiota1
When we further ferment the leaves - they not not only improve and modify their flavoour profiles, they additionally offer enhanced health benefits due to fermentation boosting bioactive compounds like flavonoids, polyphenols, and 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), intensifying its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood sugar-regulating (anti-diabetic) properties. This functional beverage helps manage metabolic issues like diabetes and high cholesterol, improves gut health, supports liver function, and offers cardiovascular protection, making it a powerful traditional medicine and superfood ingredient.2