Kadamb / कदंब / Burflower-tree, Kadam / Anthocephalus cadamba, Neolamarckia cadamba

Other Names

Status & Habitat

Habitat: Tree
Occurrence: The tree is frequently found in moist, warm type of deciduous
and evergreen forest
Season of Availability: Flowering during the monsoon season; fruiting in late summer to early autumn.
Geography: it is found in the sub-Himalayan tract to the lower hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal; in Chota Nagpur (Bihar), Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala on the West coast, and the western ghats in Maharashtra

Edible Parts: Fruit and Inflorescence
Can be Eaten Raw: Yes, the ripe fruit is edible, and flowers can be used fresh or dried.

Raw: The fruit can be eaten raw when ripe; flowers are used in various dishes.
Ripe: Fruit is typically consumed when fully ripe and soft.
As Food: Fruit is used in desserts, jams, and as a sweet treat; flowers are used in traditional recipes and as flavoring.
As Medicine: Fruit and flowers used for anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits.
Cooking Method: Fruit can be eaten fresh, made into jams, or used in cooking; flowers used in teas or as flavoring agents.
Preservation / Curing Technique: Fruit can be dried or preserved; flowers can be dried for later use.
Souring Agents Required: Not typically needed; flavor enhanced with spices or sweeteners if desired.

Nutritional Benefit: Good source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.
Medicinal Benefit: Used traditionally to treat digestive issues, inflammation, and as a general health tonic.

Tribal Wisdom: Fruits used as a blood purifier, for gastric troubles, and fever; leaves for stomatitis; stem bark for anti-inflammatory purposes and eye infections.
Cultural Significance: Valued for its ecological and cultural importance.

Tribal Recipe / Usage: Fruit is eaten fresh or used in sweets and preserves; flowers are used in herbal teas and as a fragrant addition to dishes.