Journey of taste: Badhal protects the liver, fills the body with ‘strength’, has a very old history

Swad Ka Safarnama: In this article, today we are going to give you information about such an ancient fruit of India, which is rarely seen now. But knowledgeable people are impressed by its qualities. The name of this fruit is Badhal. Even today it is visible in the forests, it can also be seen in some old gardens of Delhi. This fruit is considered very beneficial for the liver. It is a laxative fruit which also keeps the stomach clean. It is also believed that Badhal communicates ‘power’ in the body. It is found in India and surrounding countries for thousands of years.

This fruit gives a mix of orange and apple taste

If we talk about the size, type and family of Badhal (Lakoocha), then it comes from the Jackfruit family. It is very rough to look at and its size is like Sharif. When it grows on a tree, its color is green and it turns yellow when ripe. When cooked too much, its color turns brown. The size of this fruit is not the same. It will be seen from very small size to large size on the tree, but will not be bigger than Sharif. It contains white colored sticky substance (Latex), which is also visible inside the pulp. Its taste is between orange and apple, but not very sweet. Its edible pulp is of dark yellow/orange colour, which is sour and sweet according to the size and ripeness. Flowers start coming on its tree in the month of April and after that it remains full of fruits for about two months.

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Use in chutney, pickle to vinegar

Badhal is eaten raw, but its vegetable can also be made. Its chutney is also very tasty and in some states its pickle is also added, which does not spoil for many years. Its vinegar is also prepared in the villages. If Badhal is kept dry, it is used as an alternative to tamarind in food. This dry Badhal fills different taste in non-veg as well.

Badhal’s fruit is astringent, sweet, acidic, hot, guru and anti-inflammatory. Image-Shutterstock

Barhal tree is not only known for its fruit, its wood is also very useful. Its wood is considered hard and termite-resistant and is considered as strong as teak wood, which does not rot even in water. In ancient times, apart from furniture, the wood of Badhal tree was also used to make boats. It is a very shady tree which gives more coolness than other trees. Cattle eat a lot of its leaves. Its bark is used for some Ayurvedic medicines.

The fruit of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

There is no confusion about the origin of Barhal. Food historians believe it to be a tropical evergreen tree. It is found in the entire Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, etc. apart from India. It has been flourishing in the forests there for thousands of years. Not only is it being eaten as a fruit, its wood is being used in Thailand to make the traditional musical instrument Pong Lang. Badhal has also been given importance in Ayurveda.

Indian Herbs. Renowned Ayurveda expert Acharya Balkishan, who has done extensive research on fruits and vegetables, says that Badhal’s fruit is astringent, sweet, acidic, warm, guru and anti-inflammatory. It is also an expectorant and also removes body heat. The fresh fruit acts as a refreshment for the liver and the seeds of the fruit benefit the stomach as a laxative. By the way, they also say that it is considered to be of low level in the category of fruits. But it also destroys stomach worms.

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Liver, beneficial for digestive system

Renowned Ayurvedacharya Dr. RP Singh believes that there is no better fruit than this to protect the liver. The white milk found in it is an excellent laxative which keeps the activities of the stomach normal, as well as keeps away from constipation etc. Its advantage is that there is no burden on the liver and it remains healthy. They also say that it also communicates ‘strength’ in the body and in olden times doctors used to advise eating this fruit to increase sex power. It removes the dark spots of the skin and keeps it shiny.
If there is a headache, grinding its bark and applying it on the head gives relief from the pain. It also provides relief in arthritis inflammation. Modern science believes that sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals are found in it, including zinc, copper, magazine, iron etc. It is considered very useful in meeting the deficiency of hemoglobin. It is also an anti oxidant. It does not have any side effects when eaten in moderate amounts, but it can cause stomach upset if eaten in excess.

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