Kurma

Teresa Mclean from Auckland, New Zealand asks:

"Hello, I am going to my cousins wedding, she is of the Hare Krishna faith and I would like to buy a tree or plant that she can use in her cooking. Bay leaf seemed like an obvious one to me though I have been going through vegan recipes online and can't find that ingredient anywhere. Perhaps green chilli would be a good one but I would like to get an established and ongoing plant or tree. Can you recommend anything."

My answer:

"Well fresh bay leaf is nice, and so is chili, but I think a curry leaf tree would be the nicest. I presume they grow in NZ. Indians or Chinese would grow them. Make sure it is the right one. Good luck!