Mahleb: Benefits, Usage, What Does It Do?

by Abbas Jahangir · August 31, 2021

Mahleb is the secret ingredient of those crumbly salty cookies and pastries! In this article, we will be answering your questions such as where to use fragrant, aromatic Mahleb and what are its benefits!

Nature itself is a source of healing. Many known and yet unknown medicinal plants are waiting to be discovered in the lap of mother nature. One of these medicinal plants is Mahleb. Even when told calming people Mahleb he gives to people is a great nature plant small benefits.

Let’s get to know the Mahleb together!

What is Mahleb?

Adding a delicious taste and flavor to salty cookies, Mahleb is a must for salty cookies. Mahaleb adds a unique flavor to the cookies thanks to its coumarin content, which makes salty cookies crispy by chopping them. It is indispensable especially for oil lamp bagels that disperse in the mouth.
One of the healing sources in nature is “Mahleb”, which has been heard frequently in recent years but not much is known about.
Mahleb is an Arabic word meaning “sweet-smelling” or “king of perfume”.
Mahleb, which has two species, white mahaleb and black mahaleb, is a shrub-like plant that belongs to the rose family, varies between 5-10 meters in height, and sheds its leaves in winter. Idris tree is also known by various names such as fragrant cherry, wild cherry, endirez, keniro and breeze.
Mahleb plant, from which various products such as mahaleb puree, Mahleb wine, mahaleb flour and mahaleb oil are obtained, is also used in the cosmetic industry, especially in perfume production, in the paint industry, in the production of varnish and lacquer, and in the pharmaceutical industry.
Mahleb tree, which does not need any irrigation, spraying or fertilization, grows naturally. The white mahaleb tree is found in a wide geography extending from Southern Europe to Western and Northern Asia, the Caucasus and Turkestan.
The black mahaleb tree is grown as a medicinal and aromatic plant, especially in Sudan.
In addition, Mahleb is a healing plant that does not end with counting benefits.
The mahaleb flower, known for its white color and budding on the mahaleb tree, surrounds it with its fragrant scent. Trees with white flowers look like brides in nature.
There are also those who say that the Mahleb tree has a protective energy for the evil eye, and therefore in some regions it is believed that spending time with this tree has a protective effect.

What Does Mahleb Do? How to Use It Most Correctly?

Mahleb can be transferred as a flavor particle in savory recipes or it can be purchased from the markets. Mahaleb, which you can reach in powder or seed form, can easily lose its freshness and smell. The best method for this is to buy mahaleb seeds.
If you add the seeds to your recipes by crushing them by hand or in a mortar, you will have a more intense flavor.
Mahleb had a wide place in Ottoman cuisine, as it was often preferred in salty pastries. You can also include Mahleb in your rice varieties and halva recipes.
Mahleb, which is a natural remedy in case of high blood sugar, can be mixed with water and drunk on an empty stomach, not exceeding 2 dessert spoons during the day.
If you have indigestion problems after meals, you can drink mahaleb water. In this case, it will facilitate digestion and will also be good for stomach pains.
If you like the taste of mahaleb, if you say you like to use this spice on a daily basis, we can offer you a different suggestion by saying that it can be added to mahaleb bread recipes. If you are wondering if Mahleb contains gluten, the answer to this question is no, even if you are gluten sensitive, this spice is not harmful for you.
Especially if you are making ice cream at home on summer days, you will like it in Mahleb ice cream mixes.
Mahleb has useful content not only for meals but also for skin masks.
You can mix this medicinal spice with honey and yogurt to make a Mahleb skin mask.
We recommend that you try on a small area first to see if this mask is suitable for your skin type and to test for allergic conditions.

Is the Mahleb spoiled?

You can store Mahleb in the sun-drenched pantry or in your spice racks.
Mahleb powder may lose its flavor over time and become stale.
Considering this situation; Instead of buying extra and using it for a long time, you can choose to buy fresh ones in less weight frequently.

What Are the Benefits of Mahleb?

Mahlebseed is especially used as an antidiabetic because it has a very low starch ratio. It will be an adequate answer for those who wonder if its antidiabetic feature can reduce mahaleb sugar.
It gives strength and energy as it contains an average of 14% carbohydrates and 27% fat.
It is also known for its diuretic properties.
It is also good for shortness of breath, asthma and liver disorders.
Mahleb gum is a strong expectorant.
It is also known to be good for kidney pain and abdominal pain.
Linolenic acids in its composition show strong stotoxicity against monocytic leukemia cells. Considering that stotoxic substances are used to kill cancerous cells in chemotherapy treatment, it can be said that Mahleb provides a natural chemotherapy effect.
It is also known to be a powerful antioxidant. Therefore, it is also very effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Mahleb, which can meet 16% of daily calcium needs, is also effective in bone development.

Mahleb Nutritional Value and Content

Mahleb, which is rich in protein and fatty acids, has an important place among medicinal and aromatic plants.
Mahleb is an important source of fiber.
It is also very rich in major fatty acids known as oleic, linoleic and palmitic fatty acids.
It is also an important source of minerals known as vital minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, which are very important for the human body.
Mahleb seed is also a remarkable source of phenolic compounds formed by hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid and p-coumaric acids.
Mahleb is one of the important plants used in the treatment of diabetes since ancient times.
The mixture prepared with Mahleb black cumin and cinnamon yogurt is recommended for those who wonder if Mahleb is good for diabetes.
Due to its antioxidant properties, it also plays a role in cleaning the blood. Therefore, it is very good for the heart and veins.
In addition, thanks to the fatty acids in its content, it destroys bad cells in the blood.
Its regular use reduces the risk of leukemia.