Kokam

Description

Kokam is a slender evergreen small tree with drooping branches. It is a dioecious tree growing up to 18 mtr high. The fruit is spherical, purple, not grooved having 5-8 seeds compressed in an acid pulp.

Origin and Distribution

The tree is oriental in origin, found in Southern India, particularly in the tropical rain forest of Western Ghats of Ratnagiri, Konkan, Coorg and Wynadu region. It is also found in the evergreen forests of Assam, Khasi, Jantia hills, West Bengal and Gujarat. The crop prefers warm and moderately humid tropical climate with a total rainfall range of 2500-5000mm grows under a mean annual temperature of 20-30 degree C, 60-80% humidity and up to an altitude of 800 mtrs above MSL.

Uses

The ripened, rind and juice of Kokam fruit are commonly used in cooking. The dried and salted rind is used as a condiment in curries. It is also used as a garnish to give an acid flavour to curries and for preparing attractive, red, pleasant flavoured cooling syrup. Kokam butter used as an edible fat, is nutritive, demulcent and antiseptic. The rind has antioxidant property

Indian Name of Spices

Hindi : Kokam Bengali : Kokam Gujarati : Kokan Kannada : Murgala Malayalam : Punampulli Marathi : Amsol, Katambi, Kokam, Ratamba Punjabi : Kokam Tamil : Murgal

Foreign Name of Spices

English : Indian Tallow tree/Garcinia French : Brindonnier Japanese : Garushinia