Drumstick

Drumstick tree, also called Ma-Rum in Thai, is a tropical plant that is grown for its nutritious leaves, flower buds, roots and mineral-rich green fruit pods. The tree can grow upto 3-4 metres in height. The long and slender dark-green three-sided fruit pods, measure 6-18 inches, have constrictions at various seed nodes throughout the length. When cut open, the pod will reveal fleshy pulp and round pea-sized seeds. Drumstick pod is an excellent source of oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat that can help decrease LDL cholesterol. It also boasts a very high Vitamin C content which helps to boost the body immune system to combat infectious agents. 100g of the pod contain upto 235% of the daily required level of Vitamin C! To cook, simply peel off the tough outer layer, cut the pods into smaller pieces, then add to any curries, stir-fries, or soup dishes. Thais often cook the drumstick pods in a sour spicy curry called Gang Som Ma-Rum.