Almond Tree Leaves

[meiling]

Do you collect fallen leaves or do you get green healthy leaves and cure them yourself before making that beaautiful batch of tea?
and
do you use it that dark or dilute it?

I understand 80 % are collected immature, there is not good quality control according to my seller. Her family lives in Singapore and they personally collect, wash and dry the leaves before export. That's how her kids pay for their pets. I guess it's easy to find sellers who don't care. That impressed me. New batch anyday I hope. If anyone really wants to try them, let me know I'll send a few.

 

[kriztu]

I think what she might be referring to is what's locally known as Ketapang leaf. It's the dry leaf that u want. It's rich in tannin & makes the water soft. In certain rivers in Indonesia the water is "tea" in color from all the leaves that fall off the trees. It has been said these leaves replicate the natural envior. that the fishes live in. In some instances, it does calm the aros down. I am not sure there is any medicinal value in preventing disease thought. Lots of aro keepers in this region use it. The leaf can be put into a netting bag then left in the aquarium or filter. Some brew it, just using the water. It can be found here in abundance or u can buy them in tea bag sachets. Companies like Otto sell them in bottles naming it black water etc.

Attached pic..on the left is the leaf & on the right is the dried form. Pic taken from bettysplendens.

you can find them anywhere in the Philippines...known here as "Talisay Tree" or mangrove chestnut

 

[amylim]

First, thank you so much for your introduction to this great website, Meiling. Thanks also for your confidence in my leaves. I really appreciate it.

Yes, Indian Almond Trees (Terminalia catappa) are indeed found quite commonly in the tropics. This is the reason why my leaves are priced for the effort involved rather than the rarity of the leaves.

The best leaves are those which have matured on the tree, and then fallen and dried. There are some who harvest the leaves fresh from the trees and then dry them for sale at a high price. But once you've seen, smelt and used naturally fallen leaves, you will probably not go back to harvested leaves. Others have picked leaves that have been too bleached for sale thinking that the crispier the leaves are, the better. But this is again wrong, for such leaves would have their tanin and othe benefiical property already bleached off by sun and rain.

I hope I don't sound like I am advertising, but I just thought to correct a few misconceptions. I feel sad that there are leafers who make a quick buck at the expense of our fishes.

In any case, there are quite a number of websites that indicate studies as having been done on the leaves which indicate their beneficial/medical properties. So it is not merely a hearsay or a placebo. This probably sounds quite hollow coming from me. But do a search on google...

Regards to everyone,

~Amy

 

[kriztu]

good info Amy, thank you for that. never knew those little details but i've been using ketapang regularly on all my fishes....

 

[amylim]

Thanks, Kritzu. My husband use the leaves for his fishes and shrimps too. He breeds bettas; and the water in all his betta jars/tanks are nicely amber coloured. The bettas are very healthy. I supply him the leaves that are torn and cannot be sold

~Amy

 

[Koji]

Do you collect fallen leaves or do you get green healthy leaves and cure them yourself before making that beaautiful batch of tea?
and
do you use it that dark or dilute it?

Those are fallen dried leafs which I will dry them further. Stuffs them into a wasing filter bag and flush with water. Give them a few good crush and dump them into the water. Will leave them there for afew days before usage. I will just scoop and use direct. No point of diluting.

 

[meiling]

Hi Amy, Thanks for clarification and the updates, see I told you this website was full of clowns!!! Hope you didn't mind my telling the story about your kids collecting to care for their pets, I just thought it was so charming. I know, let's get your kids going on here as mini monster fish keepers, we'll train them right!

 

[amylim]

Hi Amy, Thanks for clarification and the updates, see I told you this website was full of clowns!!! Hope you didn't mind my telling the story about your kids collecting to care for their pets, I just thought it was so charming. I know, let's get your kids going on here as mini monster fish keepers, we'll train them right!

Oh, not at all. I appreciate you sharing on my behalf. My kids just love their pets... and they grow attached to the fishes in our 600 litre planted tank too. My husband once gave away a Scatophagus argus which we caught and kept from juvenile. And the children asked over and over again for weeks why it had to go... well it had to go because it was eating up the plants in the tank!

We are all learning... even as adults. It is OK, I believe, to clown about a little... for the sake of learning.

~Amy

 

[zennzzo]

Hi Amy
Welcome to MFK.


Thank you for providing your service. There are some that offer leaves but the quality is LOW!...
I have been looking for the high Quality, and now I have found it, THANX

I'll be ordering soon...

 

[meiling]

woo hoo, the leaves arrived. So if you have not recieved a pm and were on my list of mfkr's that wanted in on it let me know here or by pm please. Warning: They are very addictive to fishkeepers!

Now we can see what they really do, I've used them before and can't say enough good things!

Thanks Amy