
Since about the moment that the existence of the deciduous tree was first noted—more than five thousand years ago—the mulberry tree has been regarded as special. Pliny the Elder called it “the wisest of trees,” as only the mulberry never shoots leaves until the last frost has passed, and writers from ancient China to ancient Rome praised it for its many health-boosting properties.
The American approach to good health is changing, and functional foods and drinks, including mulberries and coconut water, are playing a big part
For much of the 20th century, the view of American health practitioners towards traditional medicine was tempered with skepticism.And for thousands of years, the Chinese have viewed mulberries as health-enhancing functional foods, using them in teas and tonics and including the berries themselves in “food therapy.”