Asian Fruit and Veg -- A Glossary -- Please Contribute

[Celticevergreen]

Lotus

Flower



Young Leaves



Seeds



Roots (Rhizomes)



Lotus is a plant in the Nelumbonaceae family and is used widely in Asian cooking. The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible. Petals, leaves, and rhizome can also all be eaten raw, but there is a risk of parasite transmission so it is recommended that they be cooked before eating. Seeds do not need to be cooked.

The Lotus has the ability to regulate its internal temperature to benefit insects it needs to reproduce. It can raise its temperature above 86F/30C during flowering for up to four days.

[Leggy Peggy]

So interesting. I thought only the rhizomes were edible.

[Celticevergreen]

Mangosteen



The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a berry of a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated on the Malay Peninsula. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters (28 to 100 feet) tall. The inedible rind of the fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. The fragrant edible flesh is sweet and creamy, citrusy with some peach flavor.

Mangosteens are usually eaten fresh as dessert. To select the best table fruits, choose those with the highest number of lobes/points at the bottom of the fruit, for these have the highest number of fleshy segments and accordingly the fewest seeds. The numbers always correspond.

It has been credibly asserted that the mangosteen was the one fruit that Queen Victoria could not have served at her table. The Mangosteen is an exotic fruit that was so perishable and fragile, even the seeds die in a week or so if allowed to dry out.

[Leggy Peggy]

I adore mangosteens.
I first 'met' them in the early 1980s when I lived in Burma (Myanmar).
The Aussie ones still aren't as nice as the Burmese ones.
But it's nice to be able to get them at all.

[Rinshinomori]

I never had mangosteen. Looks beautiful. Does it taste somewhat similar to lychee?

[Leggy Peggy]

Yes, I suppose lychee is what they remind me of the most.

[Rinshinomori]

Mangosteen is considered a superfood! I have to go look for it.

[Celticevergreen]

Pomegranate



Native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India, the pomegranate was cultivated and naturalized over the whole Mediterranean region since ancient times. It is widely cultivated throughout Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, India and the drier parts of southeast Asia, Malaya, the East Indies and tropical Africa. In the USA, California and Arizona have farms for mostly juice production.

The edible fruit is a berry and is between a lemon and a grapefruit in size. Depending on the variety, it has thick reddish to purple skin and around 600 seeds. The seeds casings, sacs filled with juice, are called arils. The arils are separated from the peel and internal white pulp membranes which are edible but bitter.

Pomegranate fruits are most often consumed as juice and can be juiced in several ways. With the juice you can make jellies, sorbets or cold or hot sauces as well as flavoring cakes, baked apples, etc. Pomegranate syrup is sold commercially as grenadine. The juice can also be made into a wine.

[Celticevergreen]

Carambola



Carambola, or starfruit, is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree native to Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka. The tree and its fruit are popular throughout Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and parts of East Asia. The fruit is entirely edible, including the slightly waxy skin. It is sweet without being overwhelming and extremely juicy.

The fruit is considered to be the best when ripened on the tree, but will ripen slowly if picked before fully ripe. Ripe fruits are yellow with a light shade of green, brown ridges at the five edges and feel firm. Green or ripe fruits are easily damaged and must be handled with great care. Ripe carambolas are eaten out-of-hand, sliced and served in salads or used as a garnish. They are also cooked in puddings, tarts, stews and curries.

The consumption of carambola or its juice in combination with certain medications can significantly increase their effective dosage within the body. Like the grapefruit, carambola also contains oxalic acid, which can be harmful to individuals suffering from kidney failure or under kidney dialysis treatment.

[Leggy Peggy]

Thanks so much, Celticevergreen.
I've been on a pomegranate kick since being in Syria and Turkey in December and January. It's an amazing fruit, and I hope people who have never had it will give it a try. Hint: a few teaspoons of pomegranate juice is a 'secret' ingredient in many Middle Eastern salad dressings. Maybe not that secret because the waiters told me.

[Rinshinomori]

Carambola is something I need to look for. Beautiful shape.

We had a pomegranate tree in our yard in Tokyo of all places and learn to love it. The fun thing to do as a kid was pull seeds one by one to eat - whoooofu, what a patience I had.

[Celticevergreen]

Mango



The mango is the apple (or peach) of the tropics, and one of the most commonly eaten fruits in tropical countries around the world. The mango is native to southern Asia, especially Burma and eastern India. It spread early on to Malaya, eastern Asia and eastern Africa.

The fruits are 2 to 9 inches long and may be kidney shaped, ovate or round. They range in size from 8 ounces to around 24 ounces. The leathery skin is waxy and smooth, and when ripe entirely pale green or yellow marked with red. The skin is inedible and contains a sap that is irritating to some people.

[Leggy Peggy]

I love mangoes and we got sensational ones while we were travelling in Africa.
Celticevergreen, I made this recipe of yours several times, Mango Kerabu (Spicy Sweet Mango Salad), but had to put the chilli on the side to cater for the non-spice eaters. I did a vegetarian night in Bamako (the capital of Mali) -- six or seven salads -- and this was one of the dishes. I also made your Kiyuri Namasu (Cucumber Salad) that night. At the end of the meal at the daily 'team meeting', our driver said it was one of the nicest meals he'd ever had in Africa and he's lived there five years.

[Celticevergreen]

Thank you very much LP. I think that was one of the nicest compliments I've ever received. Always glad to be of assistance.

[Leggy Peggy]

Just happy to tell you the reaction.