By: Klinsa Kurien, Bureau Chief-ICN Kerala
Seasonal fruits are the flavor of the town in various climes. All of us would love to eat them and suck on its succulent juices too.
Especially, summer is the time when we only think of juicy mangoes and tasty apples, mouth watering grapes, and not to forget, those lush watermelons.
But to a Malayalee, summer also is that time of the year when jack fruits grow in abundance and for the expatriate mallu, it is a real yearning to be in their native lands for even a day (if time doesn’t permit), to gorge on this yellow bulby fruit. Extremely nutritious and on the other hand, they are complete cures to any disease.
This summer I discovered that in Kerala and many other southern states there is an equally yummy, tasty, watery jelly like fruit called Litchi being sold. This fruit is originally native to places with colder climes and is found in abundance in North India.
Not many South Indians buy this fruit as they are ignorant about it. To me also it was a kind of surprise when I saw it for the first time at my in-laws place in Madhya Pradesh. It was given as a kind of present by a doting guest.
I stared at it in all awe and wonder not knowing whether it is a vegetable, or some shrub with medicinal properties. Later when I saw other family members silently eating it, I decided to give it a try (with a prayer in my heart, that it would not be poisonous).
I considered it to be some sort of an old Biblical time shrub or thorny structure which had nothing edible in it. With the first bite of the fruit, it tasted heavenly. Now I am so fond of it that I wait for summer to arrive atleast to render a bit of natural cooling into my system.
I have even enlightened my parents in Hyderabad to taste the fruit and they are equally thrilled and excited after eating it.
Its benefits are multifold. It contains Vitamins B,C, nutrients, flavonoids, is anti-cancerous, anti-ageing, heart healthy, aids in digestion and weight loss too.
I bet no other jelly candy is worth the taste of this natural wonder-the Litchi. Even “juzt jelly” cannot beat its taste…kids. So, gorge on it with all delight!
