Malunggay, Drumstick Tree, Benzolive: All the Names of Moringa

Moringa goes by dozens of names. In the Philippines it is malunggay, in India the drumstick tree, in the Caribbean benzolive, in older English books the horseradish tree or ben oil tree, and on ingredient lists Moringa oleifera. They all describe the same plant. This guide gathers the most common names, explains where they come from, and shows which name to look for on a label.

Quick Answer

• Scientific name: Moringa oleifera Lam., family Moringaceae.
• Most common English names: moringa, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, ben oil tree, benzolive tree (or benzoil tree) and the nickname "miracle tree".
• Well-known names elsewhere: malunggay (Philippines), sahjan (Hindi), murungai (Tamil), marango (Central America), benzolive or benzoliv (Caribbean Creole), kelor (Indonesia), mlonge (Swahili), zogale (Hausa).

The Scientific Name: Moringa oleifera

Botanists call the tree Moringa oleifera. The genus name Moringa comes from the Tamil word murungai, often translated as "twisted pod", a reference to the young fruit. The species name oleifera means "oil-bearing", because its seeds are rich in oil. The tree is native to northern India and is now grown throughout the tropics. Older botanical texts also use the synonym Moringa pterygosperma.

On cosmetic ingredient lists you will see Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil. On food and supplement labels you will usually see Moringa oleifera leaf, leaf powder or leaf extract.

Names of Moringa Around the World

Spellings vary from one region to another. Sources are listed at the end of this article.

Where the Main Names Come From

Drumstick tree

Moringa produces long, slender pods that look like drumsticks. In Indian cooking these pods are a popular vegetable, sold as "drumsticks".

Horseradish tree

The roots of the young tree have a sharp, pungent taste reminiscent of horseradish. The two plants are not related: true horseradish is Armoracia rusticana, a completely different species.

Ben oil tree and benzolive

Moringa seeds were traded as "ben nuts", from bān, the Arabic name of the tree, and their oil became "ben oil". In the Caribbean, the tree became known as benzolive (benzoliv in Creole), and English sources also record "benzolive tree" and "benzoil tree". Read the full story in our article on ben oil.

Malunggay

Malunggay is the Tagalog name used throughout the Philippines, where the leaves are a common ingredient in home cooking, especially in soups.

Miracle tree

"Miracle tree" is a popular nickname that reflects how many parts of the plant are used: leaves, pods, seeds, oil and roots. It is a nickname, not a botanical name.

Which Name Should You Look for on a Label?

• Leaf powder: moringa leaf powder, Moringa oleifera leaf powder, or malunggay powder. See our organic moringa leaf powder.
• Tea: moringa leaf tea or malunggay tea. See our organic moringa tea.
• Capsules: Moringa oleifera capsules. See our moringa oleifera capsules.
• Oil: moringa oil, ben oil, moringa seed oil or Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil. See our cold-pressed moringa face oil.
• Seeds: moringa seeds or Moringa oleifera seeds. See our natural moringa seeds.
• Root: moringa root powder. See our organic moringa root powder.

Names That Can Cause Confusion

• Horseradish: the condiment sold in grocery stores comes from Armoracia rusticana, not from moringa.
• Other moringa species: the genus includes about thirteen species, such as Moringa stenopetala and Moringa peregrina. When a product simply says "moringa", it almost always means Moringa oleifera, but check the label.
• "Ben" in other contexts: ben oil refers to moringa seed oil; it is unrelated to other products that share the word.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of moringa?

The scientific name is Moringa oleifera Lam., in the family Moringaceae. An older synonym is Moringa pterygosperma.

Is malunggay the same as moringa?

Yes. Malunggay is the Tagalog (Filipino) name for Moringa oleifera.

Is the drumstick tree the same as moringa?

Yes. Drumstick tree is a common English name for moringa, especially in India, after its long, drumstick-shaped pods.

What is benzolive?

Benzolive (benzoliv in Creole) is a Caribbean name of the moringa tree. English sources also record "benzolive tree" and "benzoil tree".

Why is moringa called the horseradish tree?

Because its young roots have a pungent taste reminiscent of horseradish. The two plants are not related.

Why is moringa called the miracle tree?

It is a popular nickname that reflects how many parts of the tree are used as food or raw material. It is not a scientific or medical term.

The Bottom Line

Malunggay, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, benzolive, ben oil tree, sahjan, marango: whatever the name, it is the same plant, Moringa oleifera. When you shop, look for that scientific name and for a short ingredient list.

Explore our single-ingredient moringa range: moringa superfood collection (leaf powder, capsules, tea, seeds and root powder) and moringa skin and hair care.

Sources

• Feedipedia (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO). Moringa (Moringa oleifera): common names.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Plants of the World Online: Moringa oleifera Lam.
• United States Department of Agriculture. Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases: Moringa oleifera, common names.
• Wikipedia. Moringa oleifera (etymology from Tamil murungai; native range).
• TRAMIL Caribbean ethnobotany program. Moringa pterygosperma (benzoliv).
• The Dispensatory of the United States of America (1918). Oleum Moringae (ben oil).