SHL Products – Page 2 – Suria Helang Lui

31 Dec 2016

0 Comments By admin Armchair journal, Articles, Healthy Options, SHL Products

Fish story – Part 1: The pond

I have a fish pond at the farm which doesn’t quite look like a pond. It flows with fresh water from the source through a 3 inch polypipe that I had installed and the water flows out into Sg. Lai at the other end. When I first bought the land, I noticed that there was a dried stream bed the winds through the land so I used that as the guide and created the fish pond by deepening and widening resulting in a river-like fish pond. Over the years, I have made modifications and I love how it is turning out. I am blessed because the farm is located in an area where there is a fresh water source and still uncontaminated – something which I strive to encourage the neighbour to maintain and hopefully no developers will come and destroy it.

I rear red tilapia, lampam and catfish. Along with the inflow of the river water, I further get river fish and shrimp bounty like bujuk, seluang, eels and haruan. With the addition of the other fishes, it is a blessing and a challenge as the larger river fish tends to also eat the fish that I put in the pond. So, it is a balancing act. The small river fish becomes food for the larger fishes. I further add greens by planting kangkong and throwing in tapioca leaves which also becomes their food. From my recycling of organic wastes, I get some black fly larvae which also serves as a protein supplement. I do supplement with fish pellets but it serves as an addition but it is something that I hope in the near future I can totally remove. Periodically, we will put banana pseudo stems from our own banana harvesting activity and this serves multiple functions: additional food, water cleanser and places for the fish to lay eggs and rear their babies. It is a continuos balancing act but it is all aimed at producing tasty, fresh water fish without the muddy or weird smells nor lots of slime. The water is uncontaminated water and we do not feed it garbage like animal carcasses or chicken innards. The water is nice and clear and you can easily see the more bright color fish and although ton see the silvery-tone fish takes a bit of work. As the farm is totally organic, we do not have any chemical elements contaminating the water and the fish.

With the two main elements of food and water in place, the other main element is maintenance and operations. The fish pond is segmented into 3 areas: the largest is non-cemented base as I try to mimic as natural environment as possible, the second is a temporary holding area when we do our fish sorting and the third is a cemented base processing pond which otherwise is used for rearing our catfish. Every two months, we will drain the ponds and sort and harvest the fish. As the larger fish tends to eat the smaller fishes, sorting and harvesting will minimise the cannibalisation. By draining the ponds, we get to clean and change the water although it is not necessary since water is flowing in and out continuously. Our latest improvement was to build “retainer” walls along one section that is closest to the farmhouse. Over the years, erosion has occurred so it became necessary to build one to protect that area. The plan is to further beautify it with flowering edibles like roselle so it can become another nice spot to rest and relax and where I can fish with a fishing rod when I feel like it.

Besides it being an opportunity for a produce and ensuing products for the farm, it also serves as a
flood mitigation element. This are has been known to flood especially during rainy season as the level of the river can rise very fast after prolonged rain. Sg. Lai is fed by 5 other small rivers and streams so the water volume can increase dramatically and it comes with strong currents known to have floated 1m in diameter cement drain pipes like it was a cork. It also adds aesthetic value and serves as a lounging area hence the addition of the patio where I can sit in the late afternoon and enjoy a drink and fresh air as I watch the fish – utterly relaxing. The fountain that was created requires no pumps but uses the pressure of the water flow.

I expect in the ensuing years I will probably do more modifications but always balancing between maintaining the environment, natural elements and aesthetics with the underlying aim of producing quality fresh water produce and products as an integrated farm.

20 Nov 2016

1 Comments By admin Armchair journal, Articles, SHL Journal, SHL Products

Is it really organic versus Organic instead of Chemicals?

A question put forth to me:” I am skeptical that it is organic. Is it really organic? Or it is organic when compared to chemical?”. Due to this confusion and/or skepticism, that is why I do not really like the term organic but instead prefer natural. At the farm, I focus more on natural farming. What is the difference you may ask? Here’s my determining factor:

If you use organic sources such as kelapa saw it, coco peat and rice husks, this may be considered organic but to me, I will avoid using it. Why? Simple really, all these items are laden with chemicals during the growing stage from chemical herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers. So while it is organic, I do not consider it as organic.
If something is grown using hormones, whilst it may be considered organic, it is not something that is my preference because the hormones could be synthetic hormones. Plus. it is not natural and something that is done more from a commercial perspective.

It is getting more difficult to obtain clean sources because of the widespread use of chemical herbicides and herbicides, not to mention fertilisers. In order to obtain SOM (Sijil Organik Malaysia), the land needs to be free of chemical pesticides and heavy metal apart from other conditions. I don’t remember seeing any mention of chemical herbicides. Regardless, at the farm we do not use chemical pesticides or herbicides. I believe that we can always work with nature and obtain natural sources.

In the production of our enzyme and fish amino acids, 90% of the ingredients used is farm based, when I can be confident of it being free from chemical contamination. Our water source is clean, natural water taken from the source, running through 3000 m of polypipe. We have 2 lines: 1 strictly for the fish and the other for other farm and farmhouse use.

When someone asks me how can I claim that my FAA is organic. Simple.
First: the fish source ingredient is from the farm. The fishes’ main diet is the small river fish, shrimps, algae, certain leaves and banana pseudo stem from the farm. We do not use fish from the markets where you can almost be certain that it has been contaminated with chemicals to make it look fresh, smell fresh.
Second: The water used is uncontaminated, clean natural water.
Third: The only external ingredient is the probiotics bacteria and sea salt. The remaining ingredients are all farm based.
The FAA concentrate is diluted at the rate of 1-2 capfuls per litre of water and watered at the base of the plant.

Why do I say my enzyme concentrate is organic?
First: All the ingredients used are from the farm including the sugar source for the fermentation (we plant black sugar cane which is the source for the sugar).
Second: The water used is from our clean, natural uncontaminated source.
Third: All the pest control ingredients are also plant-based which is grown at the farm.
This enzyme concentrate is then diluted at the rate of 1-2 capfuls per litre water and either sprayed or watered at the base of the plant.

These two items are the main components in our fertilisation of the plants and trees. In our fertilisers, we also use calcium, magnesium and potassium as well as other trace elements. All are from our farm produce. For example, our calcium source is also from the farm: our farm chicken eggs and certain fruits high in calcium. Our chicken are not corn-fed to reduce introduction of contaminants. 90% of their food is from the farm. Potassium from banana pseudo stem and bananas.

Soil conditions are important so soil improvers are also an essential part of the practice at the farm so that we can continue to grow good vegetables and fruits. I mix the soil improvers into the soil in subsequent plantings in the same soil to ensure the soil remains healthy and fertile. I also use it to cover non-liquid fertilisers applies to promote the decomposition of the fertiliser as well as in soil used to increase the soil level.

The base of the soil improver is the mulch where the source ingredients are also from the farm. Again, I can be sure that it has not been sprayed with toxic chemicals. Hence, I do not use any organic material from kelapa sawit, rice husks or coco peat as although it is considered organic, it is not for my farm.

I do use some vermicompost that I obtain from a source that I feel confident as well as chicken manure although minimal. I am careful of what is introduced at the farm. Why do I care so much? I have a 3 year old son who I hope will grow up in good health without the new age, post GMO illnesses like psoriasis, eczema, respiratory problems, as well a host of allergies and other health issues. At the same time, I enjoy planting and I do not want to have to worry about getting harmful chemicals on me 🙂 This is the least I can do to leave a good environmental legacy for my son.

The ability to do all this is because I have an integrated farm and do not practice monoculture so I have the diversity in source ingredients as well as availability. Whilst it is difficult to determine chemical contamination from sources out of the farm, I try to limit the exposure. Nature provides a lot of benefits hence our maxim of “Maximising Nature’s Bounty” 🙂

23 Oct 2016

0 Comments By admin Articles, Eating Well, Healthy Options, SHL Products

Papayas, our local delight with options

Papaya is one of the highest nutrition local fruits, rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber and enzymes including protein-digesting enzyme. We are blessed to be living in a climate where papayas can be grown easily with minimal care. There are many varieties of papayas and the shape and size differs. Not all papaya trees produce fruits, there are some that just produces flowers. To produce healthy papayas, it is important to ensure that it is free from chemical pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilisers. For me, I avoid GMO papayas as well as the usage of hormones to modify size, taste and texture. t would be silly to eat something to care for our health when it also contains toxic chemicals. There is no need to put herbicides to kill off the weeds around the plant and have it be introduced into the fruits that we eat. Just clear the weeds manually and you can just leave it to dry off or place it in your compost pile. I also practice salting the ground with coarse salts on a quarterly basis for several reasons. The type of papayas we grow are less fibrous is texture giving a creamier taste.

It is a great fruit to start the day, having middle of the day and also in the evening supplying us with loads of antioxidants and helping our digestive system. The fiber in papaya binds with the cancer-causing toxins in our digestive system, keeping them away from our healthy colon cells hence it is a good preventive against colon cancer. The other nutrients in papaya such as the vitamin C, vitamin E, folate and beta-carotene have been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer. A healthy digestive system further promotes our overall health.

For adults, this fruit is a great fruit to eat as protection against rheumatoid arthritis based on a study that was reported in the Annals of the Rheumatic Disease. So great for women who tend to suffer this as we age. For men, in a cancer study reported in the Asian Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that this lycopene-rich fruit helps to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The nutrients in the papaya also helps to inhibit the oxidisation of the cholesterol, protecting our heart.

So, with one fruit, you get to cover your digestive system, bones, heart as well as immune system, it is definitely sitting high in my list of fruits to eat. I get easily bored or tend to “forget” to eat it if there is only one way of eating them. There are many ways of eating papaya and still get the necessary nutrition so it makes it easier to incorporate into my daily diet.

We are most familiar with eating the ripe papaya raw but we can also eat the unripe papaya in many ways. It can be fermented to make it into a probiotic-rich food. The fermented green papaya can be eaten similar to sauerkraut or turned into a salad or our local kerabu. The free papaya can also be skinned and cut into pieces and turned into nutrition soups or used in cooking savoury dishes like curry. A simple soup is to brown shallots and garlic, add water and the cut pieces of green papaya and bring to boil and allow it to simmer until the pieces are soft. You can add salt and other condiments to taste. This soup can be dressed up with other ingredients such as chicken, beef, seafood or other vegetables.

The ripe papaya can also be turned into nutritious drinks like milk shakes or added with other fruits and vegetables to create a healthy drink. It can also be turned into a healthy, nutritious and delicious snack by dehydrating them. The dehydration process removes the moisture and it is best to dehydrate it to contain less than 15% moisture as this will inhibit the growth of bacteria that will result in the dried papaya to spoil. When dehydrating papaya pieces, it is best to use the ripe papaya of good quality and not spoilt or mushy papayas that has already started to spoil. The end result is a great snack that has minimal loss of its nutrients and ready to be enjoyed at any time. It is also easy to store them and does not require refrigeration and lasts for months (although you will find that you consume it much faster). What I do is to pack them in serving sizes as this means that I do not expose the dried papayas to the environment unnecessarily. The thickness of the papaya pieces will determine whether you end up with crispy pieces or slightly chewy papaya chips.

With its nutrition and health benefits along with its versatility, why not go local and consume our papayas 🙂

21 Aug 2016

0 Comments By admin Articles, Eating Well, ORGME, SHL Products

ORGME: Mangosteen, the booster range

Mangosteen is one of our great local fruits, also known as the Queen of Fruits. Its scientific name is Garcinia mangostanaWith the exception of the stem and seed, the whole fruit provides us with many wondrous health benefits naturally. Personally, it is a fruit that tops my list. Unfortunately, it is seasonal. So when it is the season, I tend to stock up on the fruit and process it so I can have a longer supply. Living in the land where this fruit can be grown naturally and organically, it is an opportunity that I like to maximise.

It is important to select good quality fruits that is at its prime when all the beneficial nutrients are at the maximum. Mangosteen is low in calories and is a good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber as well as providing a good amount of Vitamin B and minerals such as Calcium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorous and Zinc. It also contains Carotene-a, Carotene-ß and Cryptoxanthin-ß (Source: USDA National Nutrient Database).

It also contains Xanthone, a class of naturally occurring polyphenol compound. The fruit contains two types of zanthones – alpha mangosteen and gamma mangosteen – which have been shown to have several benefits including anti-inflammatory. These antioxidants have healing properties which heals cells damaged by free radicals, slow down raging and prevent degenerative diseases and physical and mental deterioration – what we Malays say as “awet muda”. The xanthones also helps to burn fat to prevent weight gain.

The high content in Vitamin C makes it a good natural source of this vitamin which provides for improved immune system and defence against free radicals. An important nutrient in cell development is Folate, which is found in mangosteen.

Amongst the properties of the fruit are:

anti-inflammatory
anti-fungal
antioxidants
antibacterial

Mangosteen are being used in various cancer studies with the key element of Xanthones (source: National Centre of Biotechnological Information- NCBI). Among the studies being conducted is the use of mangosteen as a “chemopreventive” in the treatment of cancer, arresting tumor growth as well as a preventive and curative treatment for cancer.

In summary, the mangosteen provides healthy benefits:

Strengthens the immune system
Fights free radicals
Good for the brain helping to fight against mental deterioration and degenerative diseases
Helps to fight against cancer
Helps the fight against cardio-vascular diseases
Reduces cholesterol
Helps in weight control

With all these benefits, that is why I have chosen it to be one of range of our healthy but delicious drinks, without preservative, additives or colouring, with the following selection:

Mangosteen Tea (unsweetened)
Mangosteen Tea (sweetened with pure cane sugar)
Mangosteen Nectar (which has a higher dietary fiber content with the inclusion of the fruit flesh)
Mangosteen Concentrate which can be diluted to make other drinks either hot or cold.

These drinks are designed for normal consumption, as part of the daily food intake, an alternative to the normal drinks like juices and carbonated drinks. Personally, I drink it almost everyday and make it a part of my normal diet. Like anybody else, I will be more inclined to drink it if it tastes good so taste is also an important criteria. No-one wants to feel like they are drinking medicine or else it will not be easy to incorporate into our daily beverage intake. For my son, I like to add 1 teaspoon of the concentrate in his drinks to make it “drinkable” for him.

For more information, you can whatsApp or message to 0172821219.

EAT TO LOVE LIFE

16 Aug 2016

0 Comments By admin Articles, Edible Landscape, SHL Products, Well-being Landscape

ORGME: SHL Enzyme Fertilisers with Pest Control

Having an organic farm, it is important for me that the fertilisers and pest control I use are organic and free from toxic chemicals. Moreover, I have a 3-year old who loves to help out especially when it comes to spraying. So over the years, I have been experimenting and came up with two liquid fertilisers that is non-toxic but yet fertilises the plants whilst controlling pests. All the ingredients used to create the concentrates are organic and natural based, available at the farm. This helps me ensure that no toxic chemicals are introduced. There is no need to use gloves and masks when handling the solution.

The Enzyme Fertiliser with Pest Control Concentrate is formulated for flowering and fruiting plants. It contains the various minerals like magnesium, calcium as well as the other essential nutrients for encouraging flowering and fruiting. It also helps to control pests like leaf miners and white flies. It is easily applied by diluting 1-2 capfuls with 1 liter of water, preferably unchlorinated water. Just spray it over the plant including the undersides of the leaves to fertilise whilst controlling pest. It can also be watered over the plant.

If a plant is infested, spray daily for about 3 days and thereafter, it can be applied 1-2 times a week. At the farm, I use it on all my fruiting plants including tomatoes, chillies and soursop.

This concentrate can also be used for cleaning such as counter tops, tiles and ceramic floors. It leaves a pleasant citrus with herbal aroma on the areas cleaned. To use, just dilute 1-2 capfuls in 1 later of water and use it to spray to counter tops or place in a pail to use for mopping the floor. No need to rinse with water and is non-toxic. It is sold in 500ml bottles and priced at RM 10.

The Green Enzyme Fertiliser with Pest Control Concentrate is formulated to encourage and care for foliage. It contains various nutrients to encourage foliage growth. It also helps control pests including leaf miners. It is easily applied by diluting 1-2 capfuls with 1 liter of water, preferably unchlorinated water. Just spray it over the plant to fertilise whilst controlling pest. It can also be watered over the plant.

If a plant is infested, spray daily for about 3 days and thereafter, it can be applied 1-2 times a week. At the farm, I use it on all vegetables and herbs such as pak choy, kailan, kale, spinach and various basil plant. It is sold in 500ml bottles and priced at RM 10.

Currently, these products are available directly from us.

04 Aug 2016

0 Comments By admin Articles, Eating Well, Healthy Options, SHL Products

SHL: Tasty healthy drinks

I prefer to have drinks that provide me health benefits but it must taste good and not make me feel that I am drinking medicine. It needs to be enjoyable and I like to have a selection of hot or cold drinks, all as natural as possible. I prefer to avoid refined or white sugar.

After working on my recipes and combinations, I have now come up with the SHL line of drinks and concentrates, with some being served hot, some cold and some either way. Some of the drinks and concentrates can be combined to produce a different drink. All the drinks and concentrate contains no preservatives, colouring, artificial flavouring, food additives or stabilisers hence it needs to be stored refrigerated and the recommended shelf-life of 3 months.

The purpose of this article is to share briefly the information on the drinks.

The Bentong Ginger and Turmeric Range
The Bentong Ginger and Turmeric Concentrate (RM 20.00) is made from organically grown Bentong ginger and turmeric to produce a concentrate that can be diluted with water or added to other beverages and served either hot or cold. A serving size is around 40-50ml a day although some have consumed larger servings. It depends on
the person. In some people, when they consume higher servings, they find that they get a stomachache or diarrhoea so it is best to start slow and observe how you body reacts to it. It makes a drink that is rich with antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can also be used to flavour dishes such as soups, as a marinate for chicken, beef or seafood and for flavouring when cooking rice.

The Bentong Ginger and Turmeric Drink (RM 3.00) produced by SHL is sweetened with either pure cane sugar or pure palm sugar. It too can be consumed either hot or cold.

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, some of my customers take it for their joint pains as well as for gout. This is my go-to drink when I have had a workout or lots of physical activity. It also has the properties for helping in digestion and bloating. Often, the fastest effect is to “pass gas” as well as better bowel movement.

The Soursop Leaves Range

The source leaves are organically grown and processed to produce a tea concentrate. The Soursop Leaves Concentrate (RM 20.00) can be diluted with water or added as a flavouring to other drinks like tea or fruit juices. It is best to avoid white sugar and when sweetened, it is often done with honey or pure cane sugar or organic sugars. Based on various research, no known adverse reactions have been found.

The SHL Soursop Tea drink (RM 3.00) is sweetened with pure cane sugar.
Soursop leave tea is often used as a complementary or alternative therapy for cancer. The soursop leave is rich in iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B and C. Thus it has been taken for overall health, improving skin conditions, anaemia amongst others.

The leaves also contain nutrients that help to strengthen the immune system hence the tea is often drank as a preventive measure. With its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used for skin treatments as well as for cough and colds.

In some traditional therapies, it is used to treat diseases related to the gall bladder and liver.

The Cat’s Whiskers (Misai Kuching) Range
The Misai Kuching Concentrate (RM 18.00) is made from organically grown leaves and flowers. No woody parts of the plant are used. The concentrate is diluted with water and generally drank unsweetened, similar to Chinese tea and with floral undertones. It can be consumed hot or cold.

This tea is often taken as an alternative treatment or complementary therapy for diabetes and high blood pressure. In traditional Chinese Medicine, it is used to cleanse the kidney and the gall bladder as well as treating kidney stones. It has antibacterial , antioxidant as well as anti0fungal properties. In traditional medicine and alternative therapies, it is used to flush out metabolic wastes as well as a diuretic flush in helping cleanse the urinary tract and kidneys. Amongst its other uses in traditional or alternative therapy is for reducing high blood pressure, for reducing cholesterol, improving blood circulation and cleansing of toxins from the body.

This is my favourite drink when I eat durians or rich, sweet desserts. It helps to re-balance my blood sugars and seem to reduce the “heaty-ness” or the durians.

The Mangosteen Range
This Mangosteen Tea Concentrate (RM 20.00) is made from the various part of the fruit, excluding the seeds. It can be diluted with water or added to other drinks like tea and fruit juices. It is best to avoid white sugar and when sweetened, it is often done with honey or pure cane sugar or organic sugars. It can be served hot or cold.

The SHL Mangosteen Tea (RM 3.00) drink is lightly sweetened with pure cane sugar. It is also available unsweetened.

It is rich in vitamin C as well as has a good amount of vitamin B-complex along with various other minerals. It is also rich with Xanthines, which has antioxidant properties which heals damage by free radicals, slow down raging and ward off degenerative diseases and physical and mental deterioration.

Apart from being an antioxidant, it also has anti-inflammatory properties and in alternative therapies is used to treat people with sciatic pain.

The Mangosteen Nectar (RM 5.00) is a seasonally produced drink that comprises of the fruit without the seeds. It is lightly sweetened with pure cane sugar and contains fruit pulp. It is most often consumed cold.
The mangosteen nectar has similar benefits to the mangosteen tea with the added benefits of fiber from the fruit pulp thus making it a delicious fiber source that will help in the digestive process and bowel movements.

I like to enjoy it as a breakfast drink, providing me with vitamins and minerals as well as fiber.

10 Jun 2016

0 Comments By admin Eating Well, Healthy Options, SHL Products

SHL Product: Pure Calamansi Juice (Limau Kasturi)

OK, I admit it. I love to have a glass of cool calamansi drink but am lazy to squeeze the juices out of the fruits each time. I want it to be available as and when I want to make a drink; This product was born out of my desire to have it ready-to-make whenever I want to have a calamansi drink or to add to my tea or to any other drink mix. This juice is versatile can be used to make drinks as well as other culinary uses. It is also less expensive than lemon.

The source of these fruits are from the farm so it is organically grown without any chemical pesticide or herbicide use. The fruits are picked at its prime, when it is loaded with juice and squeezed, straining the seeds. What is left is pure juice without any dilution hence it is concentrated. It is a great source for vitamin A and C. The main acids in this fruit is citric acid and ascorbic acid.

Calories	12	Sodium	0 mg
Total Fat	0 g	Potassium	37 mg
Saturated	0 g	Total Carbs	3 g
Polyunsaturated	0 g	Dietary Fiber	1 g
Monounsaturated	0 g	Sugars	0 g
Trans	0 g	Protein	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Vitamin A	12%	Calcium	1%
Vitamin C	10%	Iron	0%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Suggestions for consumption:

Calamansi drink made by diluting with water and sweetened with honey, raw sugar or molasses. served either warm or cold
Added to your regular tea drink to make a citrus-flapored tea
Used in marinating fish
Used to flavour “soupy” dishes such as laksa and soups
Used to make salad dressings
As a natural preservative to cut fresh vegetables and fruits

To help maintain the freshness of cut fruits and vegetables (such as for salads when you are serving them without the dressing at parties), you can toss the cut fruits or vegetables with a 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of the calamansi juice to prevent discolouration of the fruits as well as to retain the freshness.

The pure juice when stored in the refrigerator lasts for 3 months. You can also turn them into “ice cubes” and store in freezer bags for longer storage. When you want to use them, just add as many calamansi ice cubes as you like.

In alternative therapy, it is also used to treat coughs and colds, similar to how lemon is used.

All in all, this is a handy juice to have at hand as it can be used in many ways for consumption and provides nutrients to our daily food consumption without pain or undesirable taste 🙂

04 Jun 2016

0 Comments By admin Eating Well, SHL Products

SHL Product: Bentong Ginger and Tumeric concentrate

Part of the objective of the farm is to promote and encourage natural and preservative-free foods. In line with that, we have started producing and selling our Bentong Ginger and Turmeric concentrate in 325 ml glass bottles. Both the ginger and the turmeric is grown at the farm organically. Being produced with no preservatives, this concentrate needs to be refrigerated and it lasts at least 2 months. You can also freeze them for longer storage in a freezer-approved container and allow it to defrost in the fridge when you want to use it. The idea is to have it as part of your normal drinks list, an alternative to carbonated drinks, regular tea and coffee to name a few. This combination has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties as well as other therapeutic benefits.

Is this a traditional therapy? I guess you can say in a way it is since it has been used in Ayurvedic, Malay and Chinese therapy for centuries and only recently is getting into the Western realm. The approaches are different as Westernern therapy tends to the pill-popping culture whilst Easterners tend to consume them in liquid form and in as natural state as possible. Our approach also tends to be different where our ancestors view them as a healthy addition to their diet in maintaining good health – a proactive measure whereas the Western culture tends to view it as a medicine – a reactive measure.

Since this is a concentrate, it can be consumed in many ways. I consume it:

Diluting 50 ml in either hot or cold water (depending on if I want a hot drink or a cold drink) and either unsweetened or sweetened with honey or raw sugar or brown sugar. This dilution strength is within the recommended strength of 1.5-3g of turmeric root as well as for ginger (4g) based on University of Maryland Medical Centre.
Add it to regular tea drink to taste
Add it to other fruit juices
Use it to make a marinate for chicken, fish or beef
Use it to make a soupy dish either totally vegetarian or with chicken, beef or fish.

As I make it as part of regular food, I consume it almost everyday. When I take it as a drink, I drink it once a day, either in the morning or in the evening as I wind down for the day. Sometimes when I am working out at the farm with lots of physical activity, I will have another drink and this time as a cold drink. When I first started taking it, I had it daily for about 2 months. Amongst the outcomes are:

Regular bowel movements (I must warn you that the first few days, it has a strong smell which I attribute to it cleaning the digestive system).
Burping and passing gas
Reduced joint aches and pains
Lowered my blood pressure

Now, I take it at least 3-4 times a week as I now have it more in “maintenance” mode. I like to keep tabs on my body and I listen to it and I adjust my consumption accordingly. Please note that this is not to be regarded as a replacement to your health practitioner’s advise.

I only bring a limited number of bottles to our regular Sunday morning market. We keep limited stock on hand as I want to sell it as fresh as possible. It can also be ordered and pickup or delivery can be arranged (there may be a delivery charge depending on quantity). For more information, you can send a message or messenger from our fb page: Suria Helang Lui.

Updated: Feb. 6, 2017

04 Mar 2016

2 Comments By admin Eating Well, Edible Landscape, SHL Products

SHL Edibles@Flora Fest@Park Manor

All our edibles are farm-grown. We grow everything organically without the use of any chemical pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides or even hormones. We harvest at its prime so that we can enjoy its full benefits and taste. Some of the edibles that we are featuring at Flora Fest@Park Manor are:

Misai Kuching Tea
This tea is made from leaves and flowers. We do not use any stems. Thus, it has a subtle floral
undertone to it and is not bitter. It is packed in a glass jar as loose leaves and it can easily be prepared like any herbal tea. Personally, I drink it as a preventive measure against diabetes, high blood pressure and also as a general body cleansing agent. It can be consumed hot or cold and I prefer it without any sugar.

Durian Belanda (Soursop) Tea
This tea is made from mature soursop leaves without any stems. It is packed in a glass jar. I have
researched and read that it has cancer preventive properties as well as helping in the prevention of high blood and diabetes. For these reasons, it is one of my favourite teas to drink, either hot or cold, without addition of any sweeteners. It has the subtle taste of the soursop fruit. Sometimes, I add organic calamansi juice and ice cubes to have a refreshing cold drink on hot days, like the ones that we have been having now.

Both teas can also be prepared by bringing a pot of water to boil and adding the leaves and then letting it simmer for a few minutes before turning off the heat. I will then let it continue to steep till it is warm to drink. Sometimes, I just place it tea in a jar and put it in the refrigerator so that it will be ready to drink when I want to.

Fresh, Pure Calamansi (*Limau Kasturi) Juice
This pure juice is squeezed from our farm grown calamansi fruits. No additives or water are added to it. It must be stored in the refrigerator and I have stored it for up to a month without any problems, although rarely does it last that long. However, I did it to experiment to see. This juice is rich in vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals. It is also a much lower cost option for a good source of natural vitamin C. This juice can be used in many ways such as as a base for a drink, added to salad dressings, added to your cooking, as a seasoning for fish such as steamed fish, to name a few.

Other Produce/Plants

We will also have some of our farm-grown fruit and vegetables at our stall such as bananas and papayas as well as a selection of other vegetables and herbs. The papayas are tree-ripened in our effort to ensure it is rich with the the papain enzyme along with other vitamins and minerals.

As the farm focusses on edibles or plants and trees that have therapeutic value, we will bring some plants for sale. Some have beautiful flowers so it would be a great addition to a flowering garden whilst providing the edible or therapeutic benefit. Some are pictured below.

Lengkuas Kecil (Small Galangal)

Kunyit (Tumeric)

Cekur

Forest orchid

Bangui-bangun (Indian Borage)

03 Mar 2016

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SHL Products@Flora Fest@Park Manor

I am both excited and anxious at the same time. This is the first time that we are doing an event like this so this last two weeks have been crazy in preparation for the Flora Fest@Park Manor. This will be the first time that we will have all the fertilisers that we use at the farm available outside of the farm. All our fertilisers are produced at the farm with most of the content produced at the farm. All are organic based and we do not use any chemical fertilisers or pesticides or even herbicides. The aim is to ensure that we do not contribute to toxic chemical contamination of our environment.

Our organic citrus beneficial microorganism liquid fertiliser is based on our farm produce calamansi with the addition of other fruits. This fertiliser is formulated targeting flowering and fruiting plants that require certain minerals to ensure flowering and well as better yield of fruits. At the farm we use it on all our fruiting plants including vegetables like eggplant, pumpkins, tomatoes, green beans. It is also contains citronella to provide pest control. From the concentrate liquid, we dilute it at 10ml (approximately 2 capfuls) to 1 later of water and it is sprayed at least once a week. For plants like pumpkins, I would spray this twice a week once they start to flower to ensure that it has sufficient nutrients for the fruit (pumpkin) to develop.

For our leafy vegetables, I have formulated a different fertiliser to promote good quality and yield of leaves. with our Green Beneficial Microorganism liquid fertiliser. It also contains citronella for pest control. We use it on all our leafy vegetables regardless of the color of the leaves produce such as red spinach, red and green spinach, kailan, cabbages and brocollis. From the concentrate liquid, we dilute it at 10ml (approximately 2 capfuls) to 1 later of water and it is sprayed at least once a week. If it is being attacked by pests such as caterpillars or white flies, it is sprayed twice a week. I like to use this spray on all my “ulam” plants as it promotes the growth of those great tasting leaf and I do not have to worry about it being contaminated with toxic chemica

We use our FAA (Fish Amino Acids) liquid fertiliser which also contains beneficial microorganism for all types of plants and trees to promote good health and growth. It is diluted 10ml per litre of water and I water it at the base of the plant once a month for small plants and once quarterly for trees. I would also water the plant or tree that has been transplanted after 1 week to promote root growth as well as healthy cellular structure. If you are worried about the door, it is not so bad and dissipates rapidly once it is absorbed into the ground.

Sometimes I “run out” of space or some plants I prefer to plant in containers, whether it be pots or polybags. These plants require more attention to water content as well as fertiliser dissemination. For my container plants, we use the organic fertiliser mulch which contains organic fertiliser mix with mulch. A layer is applied to the surface of the soil and it helps to reduce the rate of evaporation of water in the container as well as providing a base for the fertiliser to breakdown and released to the soil. It is also great for keeping the soil alive for the re-use of the potting soil as it will add more organic matter to the soil as as it decomposes, will add further natural nutrients to the soil.

Our organic fertiliser is based on chicken manure and vermicompost. This is the general purpose fertiliser that we use on many of our herbal plants and fruit trees quarterly. For large trees, I use 2 handfuls spread around the base of the trees. For shrubs and small plants, I use 2 tablespoons and will cover it with either soil or mulch.

All the fertilisers are based on my latest formulation and based on my experience at the farm, experimenting different combinations as well as suitability for the plant or trees.