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Kadu Limb / कडू लिंब / Neem / Azadirachta indica A.Juss.

Local Name: Kadu Limb / कडू लिंब

Common Name: Neem

Botanical Name: Azadirachta indica A.Juss.

Status & Habitat

Habitat: Tree

Occurrence: Mixed forests

Season of Availability: Summer and monsoon

Geography: Northeast India, Indo-China

Method of Propagation: Seed propagation

Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

Edible Parts: Leaves

Can be Eaten Raw: Yes

Method of Consumption

Raw: Yes

Ripe: Yes

Both Raw & Ripe: Yes

Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A

As Food: Fruits eaten fresh or cooked; young leaves and flowers eaten cooked; fermented sap is drunk.

As Medicine: Helps with treating lice, tooth plaque, gum disease; used in toothpastes.
Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

Boiling Before Cooking: N/A

Pickling: N/A

Brining: N/A

Fermenting: Yes (sap)

Drying for later Consumption: N/A

Overall Method: Fruits eaten fresh, cooked, as a dessert or as a drink; young leaves and flowers cooked as an appetizer; sap from branches and roots is fermented to make a drink.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

Nutritional Benefit: Contain calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C.

Medicinal Benefit: Helps treat lice, tooth plaque, gum disease.

Tribal Wisdom

Tribal Wisdom: Helps with treating lice, tooth plaque, gum disease; used in toothpastes.

Recipes

Tribal Recipe: Chutney: gather 10-12 neem leaves, 4 tsp jaggery powder, 4-5 kokum, ½ tsp jeera, and salt. Wash and drain the neem leaves. Blend kokum, neem leaves, jeera, salt, and jaggery with water to make a paste. Heat 1 tsp coconut oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dry red chili for tempering.