Noni

Noni is also known as Cheese fruit, and the Indian mulberry. It is native to southeastern Asia, Australia and other islands of the Pacific. A Tongan myth tells of how the god Maui was restored to life after the leaves of the Noni were placed on his body. Noni is also known as Nonu (Samoa), Nuna (India), Hai ba ji (China), Nono (Tahiti), Indische Maulbeere (Germany), Mata suea (Thailand), Cay nhau (Vietnam), Apatot (Philippines), and Pau-azeitona (Portuguese).

The Noni tree is an upright evergreen that can grow up to 30' tall. It has a large tap root near the surface of the ground, as well as several smaller taproots that sink deeper. It has large, elliptical, waxy, dark green, deeply veined leaves. The small flowers are white and tubular and perfect in that they self-pollinate. The polygonal shaped sections of the oval green fruit, 3" - 7" in size, give it a lumpy texture. As the fruit ripens, it turns translucent yellow and releases a pungent odor. The fruit contains many triangular shaped, reddish brown seeds. All parts of the tree can be used.

Noni bears flowers and fruits all year round. It is found in open coastal regions and in forests. It is hardy and drought tolerant.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• The bark contains a red pigment and the roots a yellow pigment that was used to dye kapa
• During famine, the fruit provided sustaining food
• Internally and externally, all the parts of Noni have been used as a general curative
• Hawai`i’s Department of Health at one time blocked the sale of Noni as a drug, although its sale as a food supplement was permitted