Topic started by Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on Thu Sep 18 03:01:08 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

A small account of the Hunt for "REAL" Maretti Moggu Spice details.

Responses:

• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Thu Sep 18 03:01:58 EDT 2003
  
  No ingredient has taken me on such a hunt as Maretti Moggu.
  Long time back I was asked the regional name of Moggu or Maretti Moggu or Marathi Moggu in Forum Hub.
  I think I made the mistake in writing Badi Laung as Hindi Name and My best friend searched the archives and found Maretti Mogu = 'vAlmiLagu' in Tamil.
  I was not yet satisfied because, the Buds with stalks were totally different from ALLSPICE image. which was different from what we call as Moggu.
  
  I tried asking AMMAS.COM and got back what had appeared in Forum Hub written by me and Mr.Idiappam.(In the process I discovered some of the recipes from Hemant's cookery corner cut and pasted as Ammas recipes.)
  Almost everyday, I tried in vein getting the correct spice name. I even tried by sending a mail to a scientist from Tamilnadu working on spices but got no response.
  Then I remembered my friend Prof.T.G Prsad of G.K.V.K and he got me the correct name.
  So once for all let me put an end to a Marathon Quest for the real name of MARATHI OR MARETTI MOGGU.
  It is known as "CAPPARI SPINOSA"
  It is used as unripe/unopened buds in spices.
  It is among the best Liver Tonis used by LIV 52 and other world known Liver medicines.
  It is having very good Antioxidant properties. I am giving the link as under.
  
  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropfactsheets/caper.html#Culinary%20Uses
  
  
  
• From: Ivete (@ pr2-ts.telepac.pt) on: Thu Sep 18 04:38:50 EDT 2003
  
  Dear Mr. Trivedi,
  That's an interesting story. I love that spice. But here in Portugal people don't use it at all. So what we get comes in little jars from Spain and it's not very cheap.I use it in some sauces.
  In Iran, where my husband is from, they don't use it a lot except in the north where it grows wild. So some people use it for pickling. I must say that the pickle they make is delicious.
  
  
• From: Mrs.Mano (@ 61.1.213.123) on: Sat Sep 20 02:31:19 EDT 2003
  
  Dear Mr.Hemant Trivedi!
  This maratti mokku is added in some types of Tamilnadu briyanis as well as chettinadu chicken recipes. It is like a bigger size of clove in shape. It has a strong flavour. We are buying this along with annasipoo and kalpaasi[These are also some important spices which are used in briyanis to enhance the flavour] in a lot from Thanjavur for our restaurant. I am always using these for my non-veg dishes.
  
  
• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Sat Sep 20 07:02:03 EDT 2003
  
  Hello Mrs Mano,
  I know that I have been using this spice for many years under the wrong Botanical name.
  Actually I was On Trail of its Botanical name and not the spice as such.
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sat Sep 20 07:37:21 EDT 2003
  
  Thank you Mr Trivedi, I did ask the question 'Marathi Moggu is what langauge! Kannadam? If the language of the vernacular name is known - tracing the Botanical would be easier.
  
  Anyway, from the books that I have, none of the Capparis species gave a hit for 'marathi moggu' in HIndi, Kannadam, Telegu, Tamil, Malayalam and Sanskrit. The question still lingers - what language is 'Marathi Moggu'?
  
  And for the entries, one Capparis zeylanica carries the Tamil name 'AathaNdai' or 'Thuratti'. And Capparis decidua as 'karimulli'. There may be some vernacular or botanical synonyms!
  
  The hunt is still on!
  
  
• From: Dilly (@ bbcache-13.singnet.com.sg) on: Mon Sep 22 04:11:45 EDT 2003
  
  I would like to know the indian name for flax seed. Its seems that its very good ffor hair loss.
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Mon Sep 22 18:39:30 EDT 2003
  
  Then I remembered my friend Siddha Raja PhD. and he directed me to the right place to look for the Tamil Name - his library, slightly larger that Sarawathy Mahal.
  So once for all let me put an end to a Marathon Quest for the Tamil name of Capparis spinosa - marati moggu.
  
  Capparis spinosa L. (syn: Capparis aphylla, Roth) Capparideae
  Tamil: Kariyal
  English: Caper
  Sanskrit: Karira
  Hindi: Kachra, Kabra, Karer
  Punjabi: Karia
  Telugu: Enugadanta, Mumudatu
  Persian: Kuraka, kebir
  - AK Nadkarni, Indian Meteria Medica Vol I, Popular Prakashan, 1976.
  
  7 other species of the genus Capparis were listed with thier Indian vernaculars!
  
  
• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Tue Sep 23 04:22:48 EDT 2003
  
  Mr Idiappam,
  No.the hunt is still on. Iam intrigued by the name Maretti Moggu which does not figure anywhere in Local language.
  Presently I have contacted scientists of Indian Institute of Horticulture Research and some other scientists in GKVK.
  I am trying to find out the IMPORT of Name " Maretti Moggu " its source and use of Dried Capers Buds as spice.
  This is because, capers all over are used as pickles and we use in dry form. This is also an intriguing thing.
  But I appreciate the tenacity of yours.
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Tue Sep 23 08:27:00 EDT 2003
  
  Thank you Mr. Trivedi,
  
  My guess, all the while, was that 'Maretti Moggu' is Kannadam. 'mokku' or 'mottu' in Tamil means flower buds. The Kannadam people may sound it 'moggu' - I am not sure!
  
  'maratti' is perhaps used do denote a place north of Karnataka - meaning 'of the the Marathi people'. Maratti Moggu - Capparis spinosa is extensively cultivated in Karnataka - and, possibly, this Moggu is a recent addition for culinary purposes and the name 'Maratti Moggu' could be a coloquial name, a recent concotion, by the people of Karnataka, for the buds of the Capparis spinosa.
  
  Or, Maratti Mokku, is Tamil! Who knows?
  
  
• From: CI (@ user-2inimi6.dialup.mindspring.com) on: Tue Sep 23 08:53:41 EDT 2003
  
  Mr.Idiappam,
  Even though I know nothing about the botanical and scientific names, 'Marati Moggu' is a kannada word for the spice you are explaining or it might even be coloquial in karnataka. I have heard this all my life. Your analysis of the same is correct. Moggu means flower bud in kannada. Chances that this spice was introduced to Karnataka from Maharashtra are more since northern karnataka culture has a great influence of Marathas. Maybe that is how it got its name in Karnataka. If anyone goes to any store in karnataka and ask for this, store keeper is sure to know what it is.
  
  
  CI
  
  
• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Tue Sep 23 10:04:27 EDT 2003
  
  Hello CI,
  Nice to have you back in action. Maretti, marathi Moggu etc. are known as Kannad names but the most surprising part is, absolutely no reference available for that name anywhere on net AS THE NAME FOR CAPPARIS SPINOSA or CAPERS. Actually Kari Mulli is the name in Kannada also. This is what is stumping me.So for the benefit of future users of this spice, I and Mr.Idiappam have been digging. I think I should get it finally from the horses mouth by tomorrow .
  
  
• From: samosa (@ 218.39.19.69) on: Tue Sep 23 14:03:33 EDT 2003
  
  Interesting!
  
  Mr.Idiappam, Mr.Hemant Trivedi or Mr.CI, may I know which language is "samosa". I recently discovered Arabs using the same word, something like 'sambosa'. Wonder is it purely an Indian word or?
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Tue Sep 23 16:57:10 EDT 2003
  
  Thank you Mr.Trivedi and Mr CI,
  
  The following entry was seen:
  Capparis dedidua, Forsk. (syn Capparis aphylla, Roth) Capparaceae.
  Tamil: sengam, karimulli
  English: Caper
  Malayalam: karimulli, karimullu
  Sanskrit: Karira
  Telegu: Enugadanta
  Kanadam: Nispatige
  - Dr S. Raghunatha Iyer, Indian Medicinal Plants, Vol I, Orient Longmans Ltd. Madras, 1994.
  
  So - Capparis spinosa, Linn = Capparis dedidua, Forsk. = Capparis aphylla, Roth - these are the synonyms.
  
  Karimulli in Tamil is commonly refered to another plant - Solanum indicum L. (S. anguivi, Lam.) Solanaceae --- Not to be confused
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Tue Sep 23 17:05:44 EDT 2003
  
  //I would like to know the indian name for flax seed. Its seems that its very good ffor hair loss. //
  
  Linum usitatissimum L. - Linaceae
  Tamil: Alivirai
  Common English: Linseed, Flax
  Hindi: Alsi, Tisi
  Kandadam: Alasibija
  Malayalam: Akasi, Cerucana, Kayavu
  Sanskrit: Alasi
  Telegu: Avisi
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache139.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Tue Sep 23 17:11:50 EDT 2003
  
  //may I know which language is "samosa".//
  
  Samosa is not a Tamil word!
  
  

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