Sanskrit name:
Methika Botanical name:
Trigonella foenum English name:
Fenugreek leaves Tamil name:
Vendaya keerai
Fenugreek
Leaves
Fenugreek, commonly
known as methi in
Hindi, is a a plant
in the family
Fabaceae. Its is one
of the plants used
both as an herb (the
leaves) and as a
spice (the seed). A
native to India and
southern Europe,
this plant is
cultivated worldwide
as a semi-arid crop.
The dried leaves
(called kasuri methi)
have a bitter taste
and a strong
characteristic smell
and are used as a
flavouring agent in
preparing many
dishes, especially
in curry. For
centuries it has
grown wild in India,
the Mediterranean
and North Africa.
Since innumerable,
Fenugreek has been
widely used as a
food and food
additive as well as
for its medicinal
properties. Fresh
tender pods, leaves
and shoots are eaten
as curried
vegetable, while
seeds are used for
garnishing and
flavouring variety
of food. Ancient
Egyptians used
Fenugreek to combat
fever. In the
classical period, it
was grown as a
cattle fodder and as
a soil renovator.
The name derives
from the Latin
‘Greek hay”
illustrating its
classical use as
fodder. India
continues to be the
major source and
main consumer for
its culinary and
medicinal uses.
Plant
Description and
Cultivation
Fenugreek plant is a
quick growing annual
leguminous herb
about 2 feet in
height. Leaves are
light green in
color. Plant stems
are long and
slender. Fenugreek
leaves are
tripartite, toothed,
grey-green obovate
leaves, 20-25 mm
long. Fenugreek
plant blooms white
flowers in the
summer. Fenugreek
seed pods contain
ten to twenty small,
flat, yellow-brown,
pungent, aromatic
seeds. Fenugreek
seeds are small and
stony; about 1/8
inch long, oblong,
rhomboidal, with a
deep furrow dividing
them into two
unequal lobes.
Fenugreek seeds have
a strong aroma and
bitter in taste.
Plants mature in
about four months.
The whole plant is
uprooted and allowed
to dry. The seeds
are threshed out and
further dried.
Methi leaves (Fenugreek
leaf)
in Other Languages
French:
fenugrec Sénegré
Marathi
Methi
German
Bockshornklee
Malayalam
ulluva
Italian
fieno greco
Malay
alba
Spanish
alholva,
fenogreco
Kannada
menthyada soppu
Tamil
venthium
Sinhalese
uluhaal
Telugu
menthulu
Arabic
hilbeh
Culinary
uses
For centuries,
Fenugreek has been
used both as a food
or food additive as
well as in
medicines. The
leaves, stem and
sprouts of the
Fenugreek plant are
eaten green as
salad. In the Indian
subcontinent, it is
a common ingredient
of innumerable
recipes and is used
as a herb as well as
a spice. Fresh
tender pods, leaves
and shoots are eaten
as curried
vegetable. It is a
one of the
ingredients of panch
phoron, the Indian
five-spice mixture;
idli & dosa paste;
and khakhra, a type
of bread.
For thousands of
years, fenugreek has
been used as a
common ingredient of
curry, figuring in
many mixtures,
especially vindaloo
and the hot curries
of Sri Lanka. It is
a favorite in
Northern African and
Middle Eastern
dishes, and is one
of a few
spices which is used
in powdered form. It
is favourite to many
chutneys and
pickles. Its leaves,
both fresh and
dried, are used in
meat curries,
lentils and
vegetable dishes.
Fenugreek seeds are
also used in candy,
baked goods, ice
cream, chewing gum
and soft drinks.
Other uses :
* Its dried leaves
can be as a natural
insect repellent in
grain storage
* In some parts of
North Africa,
Fenugreek seeds in
combination with
sugar and olive oil
were eaten by women
to gain weight
* They are still
used as veterinary
medicines in many
western countries.
Side Effects
The herb fenugreek
has produced
aggravated asthma
disorders in some
women and has
lowered blood
glucose levels in
some women with
diabetes. Person
using oral drugs for
diabetes or taking
insulin should be
closely monitored by
a doctor while using
fenugreek.
Few side effects
have been reported
from exposure to
fenugreek, such as
numbness,facial
swelling, breathing
difficulty and
fainting are likely
a cause of an
allergic reaction.
Some side effects
may occur such as
dizziness, diarrhea
and gas when
fenugreek is used at
recommended doses.
Fenugreek may cause
loose stools in some
women, can produce
uterine contractions
,hypoglycemia in
some mothers ,sweat
and urine smells
like maple syrup ,
since it can produce
lowering of blood
glucose levels so it
is recommended to
diabetic mothers
should not use
fenugreek without
consulting any
health care
professional.
Benefits
of Fenugreek leaf
Externally fenugreek
is used for boils,
eczema ,skin
inflammations,
ulcers, and
cellulite .
Internally fenugreek
is used to treat
numerous problems
such as gastric
inflammation,diabetes
in adults , poor
digestion, digestive
disorders &
tuberculosis. It is
also beneficial for
painful
menstruation, labor
pains and
insufficient
lactation. It is
also efficacious
treatment for
painful testicles
and premature
ejaculation . It is
generally taken for
weight loss,
anorexia & for
appetite loss. Young
fenugreek leaves are
cooked as a
vegetable curry and
are also dried and
used to flavor
vegetable dishes.
The roasted seeds
are use in curry
powder, pickles,
stews and fried
foods. The seed
sprouts are also
used as a salad.
In Ayurvedic
medicine it is
commonly used for
digestive,rejuvenation
,bronchial
complaints, gout
,arthritis and as an
aphrodisiac. In
Chinese medicine it
is widely used for
the treatment of
kidney related pain
such as premature
ejaculation,back
ache, as well as
loss of libido,
painful testicles,
hernia, painful
menstruation & edema
of the legs Now a
days ,The fenugreek
seeds are used to
large extent in the
manufactures of
condition powders
for cattle & horses
. It has a powerful
smell of coumarin
and is widely used
for flavoring cattle
foods and to make
damaged hay
palatable.
Its seed has been
taken to enhance
milk production
since biblical
periods. The plant
retains
phytoestrogens,
which are herbaceous
chemicals similar to
the female sex
hormone estrogen.
Diosgenin, a main
compound, has been
shown experimentally
to enhance milk
flow.
Nutrition Facts
about Fenugreek leaf
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size:
1 oz (28g)
Amount per Serving
Calories 10
Calories from Fat 0
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g
0%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Sodium 0mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate 1.1g
0%
Dietary Fiber 0g
0%
Protein 1.1g
2%
History
In India the seeds
are largely employed
by the natives, both
as spice and
medicine, while the
fresh plant is
consumed as a
vegetable. It was
used by the
Egyptians to make
yellow dye, plasters
and cataplasms. Seed
pastes were used to
treat fever,
diabetes and stomach
complaints.
Traditional Chinese
herbalists used it
for kidney problems
and conditions
affecting the male
reproductive tract.
In various areas of
North Africa the
seeds paste were
traditionally eaten
by women to gain
weight, in
combination with
sugar and olive oil.
Medicinal
uses of fenugreek
As a medicinal
plant, fenugreek has
traditionally been
considered a
carminative,
demulcent,
expectorant,
laxative, and
stomachic. Fenugreek
has been used
topically for
abscesses, boils,
burns, eczema, gout,
and ulceration of
the skin as it has
an anti-inflammatory
effect. Fenugreek
has been used orally
for loss of appetite
and stomach
complaints.
Fenugreek seed is
expectorant,
demulcent,
vulnerary,
anti-inflammatory,
anti-spasmodic,
tonic, emmenagogue,
galactogogue,
hypotensive.
Fenugreek has been
used to promote
lactation and as an
aphrodisiac.
Fenugreek seeds have
been used as an oral
insulin substitute.
The gelatinous
texture of fenugreek
seed may have some
benefit for soothing
skin that is
irritated by eczema
or other conditions.
The fiber content of
fenugreek extract
plays a role in its
ability to moderate
metabolism of
glucose in the
digestive tract. In
people with type 2
diabetes, fenugreek
may lower blood
sugar levels and may
improve problems
associated with high
blood sugar levels.
Fenugreek may also
support healthy
triglyceride levels.
The seeds of
fenugreek can also
act as a bulk
laxative as a result
of their fiber and
mucilage content.
Fenugreek stimulates
uterine contractions
and can be helpful
in the induction of
childbirth. This
herb helps reducing
fever when taken
with lemon and honey
and also nourishes
the body during
illness. It is used
to relax the uterus
and can be taken by
pregnant women.
Preparation
and Storage
Whole dried allspice
will keep
indefinitely when
kept out of light in
airtight jars. It
can be ground in a
spice mill or an
electric coffee
grinder. The ground
spice loses flavour
quickly.
Quality Assurance
Dried seeds should
be lightly roasted
before using (don’t
overdo it though, or
they will become
bitter). After
roasting, they are
easily ground. A
small amount will
complement many
other spices, but
too much can be
overpowering. If the
seeds are required
as part of a curry
paste they can be
soaked overnight to
swell and soften,
and be easily mixed
with the other
ingredients.
Packaging
We also provide
reliable packaging
of the Fenugreek
leaf seed and other
Fenugreek leaf products.
During the packaging
procedure, we keep
the hygienic level
high and also ensure
that there is no
human touch.
Moreover, the
packaging has also
helped in the easy
and safe delivery of
the products.
We are dealing with
various esteemed
clients located in
India as well as in
the markets of New
Zealand and Dubai.
We also promise to
serve a superlative
range of Fenugreek
leaf
and Fenugreek leaf
products which
includes green
Fenugreek leaf powder to
our new customers as
we serve to our
existing satisfied
clientele. The
frequent and
concrete feedbacks
from our customers
have also helped in
the advancement of
the managerial
activities and
serving the products
as per the demand
prevailing in the
market. Last but not
the least; we are
also looking forward
to provide more
beneficial deals in
the forthcoming
years.