Myitzu-thaka-natpan for the masses

Myitzu-thaka the flower of the gods, when I first heard of it as a young government employee, was so rare that it was accessible only to the most powerful person in our country at that time for a regular supply for consumption. We commoners had no idea of what it looks like or how potent were its mystical powers.  As told by a fellow officer, I vaguely remember that the flowers were collected from a tall tree or a vine in some place at the west bank of the Ayarwady River, somewhere in central Myanmar.

Quite recently I heard about some oil produced from the seeds of a tree having the miraculous powers of healing wounds and preventing cancers. This tree is said to be found only in the Tanintharyi peninsula at the southern extreme of Myanmar and its name is Kanzaw.

Looking up for it at http://botany.si.edu/pubs/CUSNH/vol_45.pdf I found four species of Madhuca growing in Myanmar and was surprise to find out that Myitzu-thaka flower and Kanzaw oil come from the same tree. Another surprise is that Kanzaw is the same as Meze which I had heard of as an oil producing tree.

Moreover, the list shows that the Tanintharyi Kanzaw might be Ye-meze (M. lobii) rather than Meze (M. longifolia). I couldn't find the picture of M. lobii, but it may have more or less the same kind of sweet flowers that is edible. So, if anyone can have access to a Meze or Kanzaw or Ye-kanzaw tree nearby, this person can collect and eat the natpan or god's flower without paying high prices from hawkers who won't tell you that Myitzu-thaka and Kanzaw and Meze is the same tree, or from those who would sell you fakes.

All you need to do is get up early in the morning and collect the flowers that bloomed at night and drop at dawn. The flowers could be eaten raw or dried in the sun and kept for a long time.

Just look for the information on the Web about this tree on the uses and medicinal properties of its leaves, flowers, seeds and oil extracted from them if you are interested.

The tree is found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. It commences bearing at about 10 years old, and produces flowers in March and April and fruits in May and June in India.

I've read and heard about Meze tree, but haven't really seen it. So I asked two of my friends one of whom is living in Manadalay in central Myanmar. Here's a convenience guide for you to spot Meze trees.  They told me that there is a row of Meze trees under which you can get snacks and soft drinks close to the famous U Bein teak bridge in Amarapura, not very far from Mandalay. Too bad, I find lots of photos of U Bein Bridge on the Web, but none showing Meze trees.