Tambat / Ghugurval / तांबट / घुघरवळ / Madagascar Plum / Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr

  • Local Name: Tambat / Ghugurval / तांबट / घुघरवळ
  • Common Name: Madagascar Plum
  • Botanical Name: Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Tree

  • Occurrence: Forests, Hilly Area

  • Season of Availability: Feb and August

  • Geography: Africa and tropical and temperate parts of Asia

  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation through dispersal by birds, animals, wind and humans

  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Fruits

  • Can be Eaten Raw: Yes

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes

  • Ripe: Yes

  • Both Raw & Ripe: Yes

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A

  • As Food: Ripe Fruit is eaten raw, fermented into wine, or made into a jam.

  • As Medicine: Fruits can be eaten raw to help with jaundice and enlarged spleen; leaves and roots are used to treat snakebite; bark is used for treating arthritis.

  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

  • Boiling Before Cooking: N/A

  • Pickling: Yes

  • Brining: Yes

  • Fermenting: Yes

  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A

  • Overall Method: Eaten raw as a fruit; fermented into wine; made into jam by heating in a pot with sugar, lemon juice, and water.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: High amount of phosphorus, calcium, minerals and zinc

  • Medicinal Benefit: Aids in digestion, rheumatism, jaundice, spleen ailments and enlargement. It also acts as an astringent. Leaves and roots are used to cure snake bite

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Fruits can be eaten raw to help with jaundice and enlarged spleen; leaves and roots are used to treat snakebite; bark is used for treating arthritis.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Wine:
    - Boil and mash the fruits
    - Add sugar and yeast, and ferment.