THE CURIOUS CASE OF ICE APPLES

By Ranjeet Kumar Sharma

Ice apple, also known as Nungu or Taal in some regions, is a fruit that grows on the Borassus flabellifer palm tree. It is a seasonal fruit that is typically found in tropical regions such as India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.

Nagendra from Chotoppul travels to Anantgiri close to a 100 kilometers each morning to procure fresh produce of ice apple each day. As we speak to him, he patiently explains how the fruit is harvested and how the local liquor termed "Toddy" is harvested from it.

The fruit is small and round, about the size of a ping pong ball, with a thin outer skin that is brown or black in color. Inside, the fruit contains a jelly-like substance that is translucent and slightly sweet in taste It is a refreshing fruit that is often consumed in during summer. Ice apple is also used for its medicinal properties believed to have a cooling effect on the body and is used to treat various ailments such as dehydration, constipation, and urinary tract infections. Ice apples can either be consumed whole, made into a drink or even sued as an ingredient in making ice creams