Curry Tree
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? Curry Tree |
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| Murraya koenigii ( L.) Sprengel |
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The Curry Tree or Curry-leaf Tree (Murraya koenigii; syn. Bergera koenigii, Chalcas koenigii) is a tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae, which is native to India.
It is a small tree, growing 4-6 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets, each leaflet 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. The flowers are small white, and fragrant. The small black, shiny berries are claimed to be edible, but their seeds are poisonous.
The species name commemorates the botanist Johann Gerhard Koenig.
Uses
Its leaves are highly aromatic and are used as a herb or spice. Their form is small and narrow and somewhat resemble the leaves of the Neem tree; therefore they are also referred to as Kari Bevu, translated to Black Neem, in the Kannada language. In Tamil and Malayalam it is known as Karuveppilai, ilai meaning leaves. Other names include Kari Patta ( Hindi) and Karapincha ( Sinhalese).
They are commonly used as seasoning in Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, much like bay leaves and especially in curries with fish or coconut milk. In their fresh form they have a short shelf life and may be stored in a freezer for up to a week; they are also available dried, although the aroma is clearly inferior.
Disambiguation
The Curry tree is not to be confused with the "Curry Plant" ( Helichrysum italicum) which is grown for its oil. See also Curry.