Kharbat / Phalsa / खरबत / Phalsa / Grewia abutilifolia

OOO Farms Wild Food Kharbat / Phalsa

Other Names

  • Local Name: Kharbat / Phalsa / खरबत
  • Common Name: Phalsa
  • Botanical Name: Grewia abutilifolia

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Shrub
  • Occurrence: Scrub, slopes on grassland
  • Season of Availability: Warmer parts of the year
  • Geography: East Asia
  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Fruits
  • Can be Eaten Raw: Fruits, yes.

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes
  • Ripe: Yes
  • Both Raw & Ripe: Yes
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw rest of plant
  • As Food: Ripe Fruit is eaten raw or unripe fruit is used in cooking
  • As Medicine: Plant mucilage has soothing properties; consumed to help with diarrhea and dysentary.
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Not required
  • Boiling Before Cooking: Not required
  • Pickling: N/A
  • Brining: Yes
  • Fermenting: Yes
  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A
  • Overall Method: Fruit may be eaten raw and ripe, or made into sorbet or juice.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: N/A
  • Medicinal Benefit: Immunity booster

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Plant mucilage has soothing properties; consumed to help with diarrhea and dysentary.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Juice:
    Soak the fruits overnight, then boil with sugar if desired. Blend to a pulpy mix and strain with cheesecloth.

Image Gallery

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