Category: Fruits & Vegetables

Botanical Name: Solanum centrale
Family: Solanaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Solanales
Genus: Solanum
Species: S. centrale

Common Name: Kutjera, or Australian desert raisin

Names in other languages:
Alyawarr: Akatjurra
Arrernte:Merne akatyerre
English : Bush raisin, bush tomato, bush sultana
Pitjantjatjara: Kampurarpa

Habitat: Kutjera is native to the more arid parts of Australia. Like other “bush tomatoes”, it has been used as a food source by Central Australia and Aboriginal groups for millennia. Solanum centrale was first described by J.M. Black in 1934.

Description:
Kutjera plant is a small bush and has a thorny aspect. It is a fast-growing shrub that fruits prolifically the year after fire or good rains. It can also grow back after being dormant as root stock for years after drought years. The vitamin C-rich fruit are 1–3 cm in diameter and yellow in color when fully ripe. They dry on the bush and look like raisins. These fruits have a strong, pungent taste of tamarillo and caramel that makes them popular for use in sauces and condiments. They can be obtained either whole or ground, with the ground product (sold as “kutjera powder”) easily added to bread mixes, salads, sauces, cheese dishes, chutneys, stews or mixed into butter.

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Cultivation:
Traditionally, the dried fruit are collected from the small bushes in late autumn and early winter. In the wild, they fruit for only two months. These days they are grown commercially by Aboriginal communities in the deserts of central Australia. Using irrigation, they have extended the fruiting season to eight months. The fruit are grown by Amata and Mimili communities in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, by the Dinahline community near Ceduna, by the Nepabunna community in the northern Flinders Ranges, and on the Tangglun Piltengi Yunti farm in Murray Bridge, and are marketed by Outback Pride.

Edible Uses:
The Akudjura is closely related to the typical garden tomato (both belong to the Solanaceae family,) and can be found either whole or as a pre-ground powder. The ground product, (sold as “Kutjera powder”) is easily added to bread mixes, scones, biscuits, salads, sauces, cheese dishes, chutneys, and stews or mixed into butter. The Akudjura flavor matures on standing or with extended cooking and can be used in addition too, or to replace traditional tomato in tomato-based pasta sauces and pizza.

The unique flavour of bush tomato is best used in small quantities because using too much will cause the bitter sharp notes to dominate and overpower the fruity, sweet, caramel flavours.Whole bush tomatoes can be added to long,slow-cooked dishes such as soups and casseroles.

The strong flavour of Akudjura spice (Bush Tomatoes) is well suited to lamb and red meats particularly and is great in salsa’s, relishes and chutney’s. Akudjura can be eaten by themselves as a pungent flavor quencher similar to an olive and are a unique delicacy when served with cheese assortments.

A savoury bread flavoured with bold herbs rosemary and thyme can marry well with bush tomato, either baked within or soaked and used as a topping.

Even a spread made with olives and garlic can take advantage of the strong, raisin-like character that blooms from ground bush tomato.

Akudjura (Bush Tomato) also works well as a coating for grilled fish, such as salmon or tuna.

Akudjura (Bush Tomato) combines particularly well with ground coriander seed, wattleseed, lemon myrtle and a little salt for rubbing onto white and red meats before grilling,barbecuing or stir frying.

A tangy pepper steak spice can be made by pounding black and white peppercorns, mustard seeds, salt and akudjura in a pestle and mortar.

Health Benefits:
The Australian desert raisin fruits (Akudjura ) are rich in vitamin C and lots of health benefits.

Nutritional Value of Kutjera fruit:

Energy 384kJ / 100gm
Protein………1.6 gm / 100 gm
Fat………… 0.6 gm / 100 gm
Carbohydrates. 21.0 gm / 100 gm
Fibre…….. 3.2 gm / 100 gm
Na….. 4.66 µg
K…….2251 µg
Mg….. 160.3 µg
Ca……117.1µg
Fe……26.5 µg
Zn…….1.850µg

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_centrale
http://www.tipdisease.com/2014/11/benefits-and-nutrition-of-akudjura-bush.html
http://www.tipdisease.com/2014/11/benefits-and-nutrition-of-australian.html
https://www.fruitsinfo.com/kutjera-fruit.php

Botanical Name : Garcinia parvifolia/Clusia Clusioideae
Family: Clusiaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Genus: Garcinia
Species: G. parvifolia

Synonyms:
*Garcinia globulosa Ridl.
*Garcinia tetangies Boerl.
*Rhinostigma parvifolium Miq

Common Names: Kundong, Brunei cherry or Asam aur aur
Brunei Sherry, Kandis (Eng.)
Indonesia: Asem Kandis; Jeri, Kemenjing, Ki Jeri, Ki Ceri-Ceri, Memenjing, Walung (Java); Asam Kandis, Kandes, Kandis Burung (Sumatra); Entelang, Ete, Gandis, Kedundong, Kumanjing, Kundong (Kalimantan); Badang (Bali)
Malaysia: Asam Kandis, Asam Aur Aur
Thailand: Chamuang Lek

Habitat: Kundong is native to the island of Borneo. The tree is found at elevations of 600–800 metres (2,000–2,600 ft) in humid environments, and grows to a height of 33 metres (108 ft). The bark, wood, leaves, and fruit of the kundong tree are used by humans.

Description:
Kundong is a tropical evergreen tree native to the island of Borneo.The tree is found at elevations of 600–800 metres (2,000–2,600 ft) in humid environments, and grows to a height of 33 metres (108 ft). The bark, wood, leaves, and fruit of the kundong tree are used by humans……….CLICK & SEE
Covering a very large area, they are classified under the category of Sub-canopy tree that grows upto 33metre tall and 23 cm dbh-diameter at breast height. The shoot of the tree has yellow to white latex with leaves having no trichomes, simple, venation inconspicuous of pinnately arranged leaf veins. The flowers – 9 mm diameter, white-yellow, placed in leaf axils. Fruits- 17 mm diameter, yellow-orange-red, fleshy berry, seeds with white aril.

Propagation:
Kundong trees grow in the humid interior of Borneo. The trees can be found at higher elevations along ridges and near riverbanks. The kundong propagates through seeds that take around six months to germinate. The tree grows quickly and once planted can produce fruit in as little as 4 years. The majority of kundong grow in the wild, but the tree can be cultivated in gardens.

Edible Uses:
Kundong can be eaten raw or cooked. The small red-yellow fruit has a sour taste with a sweet white pulp. Younger fruits are used to produce a sour taste in other types of food, such as curry. The fruit is about the size of a cherry and looks similar to a purple mangosteen, hence the nicknames Brunei cherry (interchangeable with Borneo cherry) and red mangosteen.

Medicinal Uses:
Garcinia parvifolia is used in traditional medicine. Currently, the antiviral activity of G. parvifolia is not known.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_parvifolia
https://www.fruitsinfo.com/kundong-fruit.php
http://www.plantsofasia.com/index/garcinia_parvifolia/0-904

Botanical Name: Citrus japonica/Fortunella japonica
Family: Rutaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Genus: Citrus
Species: C. japonica

Synonyms:
*Atalantia hindsii (Champ. ex Benth.) Oliv.
*Atalantia polyandra Ridley
*Citrus aurantium olivaeformis Risso
*Citrus aurantium var. japonica Hook
*Citrus erythrocarpa Hayata

Common Name: Kumquat

Habitat: Kumquat may be native to E. Asia – China, Japan. The plant grows on light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Plant Description:
Kumquats is a small evergreen, sparingly armed tree, 2.5 to 4.5 meters (8 to 15 ft.) tall with a compact crown and angular green branches when young, thorn less or with a few spines. They are found growing in hot climate and normally prefer moist soil that is rich in organic matters. Leaves are oval to broadly elliptic, 6–7.5 cm by 3–4.5 cm, medium green, simple, with acute to sub-acute apex, tapering obtuse base, entire to sub crenulate margin and borne on inconspicuously winged 6–11 mm petioles. Flowers are solitary, or paired and axillary, white, bisexual; sepals green glabrous, 5 toothed; petals 5 white, oblong. Although a lot of kumquat trees are generally cultivated because of their fairly sweet, delicious fruits, also, they are utilized as decorative plants because of the desirable, gleaming leaves and delicate white flowers that blossom during the summer time. Additionally reduce twigs of the kumquat tree are used in most regions as Christmas time decorations. As a result of variety of the use, kumquat trees are increasingly becoming popular to cultivate in the home…….CLICK & SEE

Types of Kumquat:

The different kumquats are usually recognized as organic varieties instead of as cultivars. Listed below are those most used for food

‘Hong Kong’ or Hong Kong Wild……..CLICK & SEE

Hong Kong Kumquat technological title is F. Hindsii Swing which is also known as chin chü; Shan chin Kan, as well as chin tou from the Chinese-native to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Kumquat is tiny, with regards to the dimensions of a pea. In addition, it’s a sluggish grower, and is also very resistant of container culture, that makes it an excellent matter for bonsai farmers.

The Hong Kong kumquat has got white-colored perfumed flowers. Foliage is evergreen, shiny as well as deep-green. Fruits of the Hong Kong kumquat are tiny as well as globose, with the size a pea. They may be orange whenever ripe. The fruit is delicious, even though really small.

Chinese people group towards the foothills to collect the fruits in season. Under western culture, the very thorny shrub is cultivated simply just as one decorative pot plant.

‘Marumi’, or Round Kumquat……...CLICK & SEE

Marumi Kumquat medical title is F. japonica Swing also referred to as Citrus maduremis Lour.

This particular fresh fruit is spherical, somewhat oblate or even obviate 1 1/4 in (3.2 cm) lengthy. The color of the peel is golden-yellow which can be smooth, along with big oil glands, thin, fragrant as well as spicy. Its pulp has got 4 to 7 sections that is short as well as citrus with 1 to 3 seeds that are small compared to the ones from ‘Nagami’.

This particular fruit was completely explained the very first time in 1784. It absolutely was launched into Florida from Japan simply by Glen St. Mary as well as Royal Palm nurseries in 1885.

The tree actually reaches 9 ft. (2.75 m); is normally much like that of ‘Nagami’ with the exception that it is somewhat thorny, has got relatively smaller sized leaves and is also significantly more cold-tolerant; bears in the exact same season.

‘Meiwa’ or Large Round Kumquat……….CLICK & SEE

Big Spherical Kumquat clinical title is F. crass folia Swing also is known as ninpo or even neiha kinkan within Japan-possibly a crossbreed in between ‘Nagami’ as well as ‘Marumi’.

This particular fresh fruit is short-oblong to spherical, about 1 1/2 in (4 cm) broad. Its peel is extremely thicker as well as fairly sweet whose color is orange-yellow. Its pulp is frequently in 7 sections that is fairly sweet or even subs acid. It is usually seedless or even consists of couple of seeds.

The tree is actually a dwarf, often thorn less or even having small, strong spines. Its leaves vary from the ones from some other kumquats in becoming extremely thicker as well as firm as well as partially collapsed lengthwise. They’re pitted with plenty of dark-green oil glands.

It was presented from Japan by the United States Department of Agriculture in between 1910 as well as 1912. They’re broadly, cultivated in Chekiang Province, China, and much less generally in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. There’s an attractive type along with variegated fruits in Japan. This particular kumquat is perfect for consuming fresh, yet still is fairly uncommon in the United States of America

‘Nagami’, or Oval, Kumquat……..CLICK & SEE

Nagami, or even Oval, Kumquat medical title is F. margarita Swing. Nagami are usually obviated or even oblong that is 1 3/4 in (4.5 cm) lengthy as well as 1 3/16 in (3 cm) broad. Its pulp is split into 4 or 5 sections that contain 2 to 5 seeds. It really is grown in season October to January.

This particular plant launched from China into London in 1846 simply by Robert Fortune. This particular plant explorer for the Royal Horticultural Society. It absolutely was reported in North America in 1850. It absolutely was launched into Florida from Japan simply by Glen St. Mary as well as Royal Palm nurseries in 1885.

Its tree is actually 15 ft. (4.5 m) taller. An adult sample on rough lemon rootstock at Oneco, Florida, in 1901, bore a crop of 3,000 to 3,500 fruits. This is actually the usually grown kumquat in the United States of America.

Fruits:
Kumquats are actually a tiny, citrus fruits. They are normally globose to slightly oblate, or sub globose, which is 2.0–2.7 cm in diameter. Fruits are normally green when young and turn to glossy golden orange to orangey-yellow when mature. The fruit includes a fairly sweet, thin, fragrant external skin along with a sour internal flesh that contains 4–6 pulpy, juicy, orange segments. Although kumquats taste just like that of other citrus category fruits, they are distinguished in a way that they can be eaten wholly including the peel, but some people love consuming just the skin. The fruit consists of 1–3 small pointed seeds or some of them are even seedless. Due to its sweet and sour flavor it has been used in several food items since ancient times.

Edible Uses: The fruits are eaten fresh as they are swweet and delicious.Kumquats, with respect to the varieties, look like small round or even oval oranges, about an inch to 2 inches in total length. These types of fruits are a fantastic method to obtain vitamins A and C, in addition to fiber. Kumquats have a wide range of cooking uses. They might be candied or even pickled, utilized in kabobs, converted to jellies, marmalade as well as chutney, or even utilized just as one component in cakes as well as pies. They will add color as well as taste whenever sliced, in salads or even like a garnish for possibly hot or even iced tea. Their particular tastes mix effectively together with chicken, pork, duck, lamb, fish as well as sea food. They might be utilized to taste liquors as well as, with leaves linked, are spectacular like a garnish for martinis.

Nutritional Value:
Apart from their sweet and sour taste, kumquat is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Consuming 19gram of kumquats offers 8.3 mg of Vitamin C, 1.2 g of Total dietary Fiber, 3.02 g of Carbohydrate, 0.16 mg of Iron, 0.018 mg of Copper, 0.017 mg of Vitamin B2, 12 mg of Calcium, 0.026 mg of Manganese and 4 mg of Magnesium.

Medicinal Uses:
The plant is antiphlogistic, antivinous, carminative, deodorant, stimulant. The leaves and fruit contain an essential oil, whilst the fruit also contains sugars and organic acids. The fresh fruit is antitussive and expectorant – in Vietnam it is steamed with sugar candy and used in the treatment of sore throats. It is said to be very good for infants.

Health Benefits:
*Enhances gums overall health
*Enhances Defense mechanisms
*Enhances Iron absorption
*Increases Lung health
*Protects from regular infections
*Decreases Inflammations
*Safeguards blood through over-clotting
*Decreases Cholesterol levels
*Minimizes lipids
*Reduces Chance of atherosclerosis
*Decreases Likelihood of weight problems
*Helps prevent depressive disorders
*Safeguards from coronary disease
*Assists protect from type 2 diabetes
*Decreases exhaustion
*Fortifies hair
*Fortifies nails
*Enhances concentration capability
*Minimizes joint pain

Other Uses:
*Marumi kumquat is grown as an ornamental plant in the garden, parks and as ornamental house plant in patios and terraces and can be used in bonsai.

*This plant symbolizes good luck in China, Japan and Korea and other Southeast Asian countries, where it is occasionally given as a gift during the Lunar New Year.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumquat
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/kumquats/
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Fortunella+japonica

Botanical Name: Gomortega keule
Family: Gomortegaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Laurales
Genus: Gomortega
Species:G. keule

Synonyms: G. nitida; Spanish names keule, Queule, and Hualhual

Common Name:Keule

Habitat: The plant grows only in a very narrow habitat range in coastal central Chile, with an example ecoregion of occurrence being the Chilean matorral.The species is endangered of extinction due to overharvesting, clearing the forests where it is found for agriculture and silviculture.

Gomortega keule produces a yellow edible sweet fruit about 34–45 millimetres (1.3–1.8 in) in diameter, harvested for making a kind of marmalade.

Description:
Keule is an evergreen trees, aromatic, gray bark with shallow longitudinal fissures. The leaves are deciduous, petiolate, simple, entire, obovate to lanceolate, coriaceous. The stems have unilacunar nodes and with two foliar traces. The branches are quadrangular.

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The fruit is a uni or trilocular yellow drupe, usually with 1 (-2) seeds, fleshy mesocarp, pleasant, stony endocarp. There are 1-2 seeds per fruit, with abundant, oily endosperm, large embryo, dicotyledonous.

With just about 34-45 millimeters (1.3-1.8 in) in diameter, the Gomortega keule produces a yellow fruit that’s edible also sweet. It is mainly used in making a distinguishing marmalade. Coming to the fruits of Gomortega, they are as large as small hen’s egg. Its yellow color invites one to eat them and is highly lustrous. Even though they are not very succulent, excess eating of the fruit will result in headache. While the nuts and pits of the fruit are hard as a stone, the fruit- pulp is sweet and pleasant. With different appearance of leaves, they are evergreen, simple, aromatic and dark green on the upper side and light beam at the bottom. Having a smooth edge they are oblong elliptical in shape.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomortega
https://www.fruitsinfo.com/keule-fruit.php

Botanical Name :Stelechocarpus burahol
Family: Annonaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Magnoliales
Genus: Stelechocarpus
Species: S. burahol

Common Names: Kepel, Kepel fruit, Keppel fruit,Burahol or Kepel apple

Habitat: Kepel fruit is native to Southeast Asia, grown only in central Java, Indonesia.This rare fruit can be found at Keraton Jogjakarta area, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Taman Kiai Langgeng Magelang and Kebun Raya Bogor.

Description:
Kepel is a large and erect evergreen tree which measures 25 meters tall with trunk having 40 cm in diameter with dark grey to brown to black and bark is covered with various thick tubercles. Leaves are elliptic oblong to ovate-lanceolate about 12–27 cm × 5–9 cm having distinct mid rib. Flowers are unisexual and green turning whitish and fascicled on tubercles. Male flowers are ramiflorous on older branches measuring 1 cm in diameter having 3 ovate deltoid and obtuse sepals and 7-8 mm long imbricate petals in two whorls of three. Fruits are brownish, sub globose to obovoid, juicy about 5-6 cm in diameter with yellow pulp enclosed with 4 to 6 ellipsoid seeds about 3-3.5 cm long..

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This fruit is an identity flora of Daerah Istimewa Jogjakarta. Stelechocarpus burahol was loved by Javanese princesses because it was a symbol of unity and mental and physical integrity. Because it functioned as a deodorant, many common people did not have this tree planted because they believed they would get cursed. That made this tree rare.

Propagation:
One can propagate S. burahol from the seeds of ripe fruit.

Edible Uses: Fruit pulp is eaten and the fruit is sold in local markets in Java. Ripe fruit is consumed fresh.

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Medicinal Uses: The fruit of this species has traditionally been known in Java to have value as an oral deodorant. Out of the pulp, seed and peel, the peel has the best adsorbent ability. A 2012 study showed that it reduced the odor of feces by activating the probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium bifidum. Stelechocarpus burahol is also an antihyperuricemic, and has traditionally been used to treat gout.

This fruit was also believed to be used by Javanese princesses as contraception. The fruit is believed to have the function of preventing kidney inflammation. The wood can be made into house tools, the leaves used to lower cholesterol.

Health Benefits:

*The study shows the ability to restore performance of enzyme production in liver and assist in regenerating cells from damaged liver.
*It accelerates the process of cell regeneration in kidneys and prevents kidney cell damage.
*It acts as a remedy for gout.
*It speeds up the process of cell regeneration and also maintains body fitness and keeps person young.
*High content of Vitamin C helps to make skin clean. It cleanses the blood, strengthen liver, kidneys and lungs.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stelechocarpus_burahol
https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/burahol/