Woe the Curry Leaf
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Curry leaves are essential ingredients for me when cooking South Indian (especially Kerala) food. Last week, I was distressed to find out from a local Indian grocery store that they are now banned (at least) in California. Apparently they found some pests in the shipments (interestingly these come to California from Hawaii) and are temporarily banned until they figure out what’s going on. See here for more info.
While it’s possible to use curry leaf powder as a substitute, it’s just not the same. Curry leaves are normally added in the beginning when cooking a veggie, chicken, or seafood dish. The splatter when they hit the oil, the crackling sound, and the aroma they release within a few seconds adds so much to the flavor and pleasure of cooking. I am going to miss them dearly.
Why idiot peoples put pest in curry leaf shipment? I have pest too, in my village in Kazhakistan - pest pig. He very nice, we play sometime, i like. When he get big, I cook him in nice Kazhaki stew, not with curry leaf, but other things like salt and peper. Still, I never think ship him to Hawai. Keep your pest in your own home, please imbecile peoples.
I recently fell in love with South Indian cuisine (try Savoring the Spice Coast of India, by Maya Kaimal–every dish has been a hit!). UNBELIEVABLY, there is a tiny Indian grocery store in this Midwest town of 50,000 that carries (well, carried) fresh curry leaves! It was Fed-exed in every week from Florida. It is a MUST to complete the flavour of traditional South Indian dishes.
It’s been about 2 months now, and the owner hasn’t been able to find another source. I can’t find any cohesive info from the FDA. The Florida site said they are not allowing any Murraya Koenegii to leave the state. Last thing I read said it wasn’t in CA yet…
So, this aphid-like insect sucks the plant juices and carries the bacterium that causes the disease (huanglongbing! That’s its name!), or “yellow dragon” disease (it has a bunch of other names too). It keeps citrus fruit from ripening, or keeps it from changing to a ripe colour, or something.