Koshimb / Kusum / कोशिंब / कुसुम / Kusum / Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken.

  • Local Name: Koshimb / Kusum / कोशिंब / कुसुम
  • Common Name: Kusum
  • Botanical Name: Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken.

Status & Habitat

  • Status: LC

  • Habitat: Tree

  • Occurrence: Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

  • Season of Availability: Warmer parts of the year

  • Geography: Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia

  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation

  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Leaves & Seeds

  • Can be Eaten Raw: Yes

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes

  • Ripe: Yes

  • Both Raw & Ripe: Yes

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A

  • As Food: Young leaves and shoots eaten raw or steamed with rice or cooked in soup/stew; fruit is eaten raw when ripe or pickled when unripe.

  • As Medicine: Bark helps reduce fever; ripe fruit helps with digestion; decoction helps with feverish feeling; local application reduces pain and itching.

  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Not required

  • Boiling Before Cooking: Not required

  • Pickling: Yes, Unripe Fruits

  • Brining: No

  • Fermenting: No

  • Drying for later Consumption: No

  • Overall Method: Young leaves and shoots eaten raw or steamed with rice or cooked in soup/stew; fruit is eaten raw when ripe, or pickled when unripe.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Rich in fat and protein.

  • Medicinal Benefit: Skin diseases, boils, Leprosy, Poisoning, Snake bites, Uterine bleeding issues, Joint pains

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Bark helps reduce fever; ripe fruit helps with digestion; decoction helps with feverish feeling; local application reduces pain and itching.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: "Remove petals and sepals from flowers, but keep the egg cells. Boil the female reproductive part with garcinia and salt, then discard the water.
    Add curry powder, chili powder, salt, and coconut milk. Cook."