KIWI PEPPER

SOMETIMES CALLED MAORI KAVA — THE PLANTS ARE RELATED — KAWAKAWA HAS SIMILAR CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS MANY MEDICINAL USES

Words Jennifer Stackhouse

Native to New Zealand, the kawakawa — part of the pepper family and closely related to kava (Piper methysticum) and betel leaf (P. betle) — is a pretty and very useful tree long harvested by Māori for its health benefits. Another subspecies (P. excelsum subsp. psittacorum) is native to some near Pacific Islands including Norfolk, Lord Howe and the Kermadec Islands. Recent studies by the University of Auckland have found that this New Zealand native does indeed have medicinal value and more than 60 biologically active compounds have been identified in its leaves. With a slightly basil-like flavour, the leaves are often foraged in the wild in New Zealand for wellbeing purposes. An infusion of leaves is used as a traditional Māori medicine to alleviate pain from toothache as well as a host…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #14.3

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