Noni Leaves and Fruit

The noni tree (Morinda citrifolia) is a small evergreen tree or shrub that grows to around five to ten metres tall. It is native to Australia but is now found throughout many subtropical and tropical regions. In English, it is also known as Indian mulberry.

Noni Fruit

The fruit of the noni tree is usually simply called “noni”. It can be eaten raw or further processed. When ripe, its somewhat unpleasant smell is said to resemble rotten cheese. In Thailand, the noni fruit, which is called , is mainly made into juice but is also used as a vegetable in curry dishes.

Noni Leaves

Noni leaves are also edible. In Southeast Asia, they are often used as a vegetable. In Cambodia, for example, they are a popular ingredient in the well-known steamed dish “amok”.

In Thailand, the leaves are called , in Khmer , and in Vietnam . In Indonesia, they are called “Daun Mengkudu”.

Noni leaves are also reportedly called “amok” in Khmer and are said to have given the dish its name. I have not yet found further evidence for this claim, which was made during a cooking course in Siem Reap.