Kokum is one of the
lesser known spices of
India. It is only found
in western regions of
India (Konkan, Malabar
and Kanara regions) and
is not very well known
outside these regions.
Like tamarind, Kokum is
used as a souring agent
and has a sharp, acidic
flavor with a fruity
aroma.
Kokum tree is a
solitary, tropical tree
and is
difficult to
propagate. The tree is
slender and its fruit
looks like a small plum
which becomes dark red
when ripe. The ripe
fruits are harvested and
preserved by drying in
the Sun. Salt is rubbed
onto the rind to speed
up the drying process
and to preserve the
tangy flavor.
Botanical Name :
Garcinia indica Family :
Clusiaceae Hindi Name :
Kokam Part Used : Peel
of Fruit
Spice Description
Kokum is dark purple
to black, sticky and
with curled edges.
The fruit is often
halved and dried, so
that the dried seeds
are visible in their
chambers like a
citrus fruit. It is
usually available as
a dried rind,
resembling a thick
plum skin. When
added to food it
imparts a pink to
purple colour and
sweet/sour taste.
Bouquet: a slightly
sweet and sour
aroma.
Flavour: a
refreshing sour
taste, slightly
astringent
Plant Description
and Cultivation
Kokum is a tropical
evergreen tree,
related to the
mangosteens. A
slender tree with
sloping branches, it
reaches heights of
15m (50 ft). The
thin bark is lined
and the leaves
oblong. The dark
purple fruit is
round, about 4 cm (1
1/2 in) in diameter
with 5 - 8 seeds.
The fruits are
picked when ripe,
the rind is then
removed and soaked
in the juice of the
pulp and then
sun-dried. The kokum
is difficult to
cultivate, usually
growing as solitary
trees in a tropical
forest environment.
Uses
Culinary Uses-Kokum
has the same souring
qualities as
tamarind, especially
enhancing
coconut-based
curries or vegetable
dishes like
potatoes, okra or
lentils. Kokum is
especially used with
fish curries, three
or four skins being
enough to season an
average dish. It is
also included in
chutneys and
pickles. The skins
are not usually
chopped but are
added whole to the
dish. Seasoning
should be checked as
they are quite
salty. Beware of
biting on a stone as
a few are often left
in the skins.
Medicinal Uses-
Owing to the cooling
properties of kokum,
oil of the fruit is
used as emollient
and antiseptic. It
is helpful in
healing allergies,
rashes and skin
ailments. Kokum
butter is very
soothing for burns,
chaffed skin and
scalds. Amrutkokum
is a drink made of
sugar syrup and
kokum fruit to treat
sunstroke. The young
leaves and the bark
are used as an
astringent.
Attributed Medicinal
Properties
As mentioned in the
introduction,
kokum’s refrigerant
properties are well
known. It is useful
as an infusion, or
by direct
application, in skin
ailments such as
rashes caused by
allergies. Kokum
butter is an
emollient helpful in
the treatment of
burns, scalds and
chaffed skin. In
addition, kokum
seeds yield a unique
fat used to make
ointments,
suppositories,
lipsticks and
chocolates. The
fruits are steeped
in sugar syrup to
make amrutkokum
which is
drunk to
relieve sunstroke.
Kokum is well known
to counteract the
heat.
Preparation
and Storage
Similar to tamarind,
kokum skins are
usually available as
dried rind or fruit,
and infused in hot
water. The deeper
the colour the
better the kokum. It
will keep in an
airtight jar for
about a year.
Quality Assurance
As we believe in
providing quality
products that are
close to nature, we
conduct various
stringent quality
tests under the
supervision of the
experts. These tests
are performed with
due care from the
very initial stage
of procurement of
the products to the
final stage of
delivery to the end
users.
Packaging
We also provide
reliable packaging
of the Kokum (Garcinia
indica) and other
Kokum Garcinia
indica products.
During the packaging
procedure, we keep
the hygienic level
high and also ensure
that there is no
human touch.
Moreover, the
packaging has also
helped in the easy
and safe delivery of
the products.
We are dealing with
various esteemed
clients located in
India as well as in
the markets of New
Zealand and Dubai.
We also promise to
serve a superlative
range of Fenugreek
leaf
and Fenugreek leaf
products which
includes green
Fenugreek leaf powder to
our new customers as
we serve to our
existing satisfied
clientele. The
frequent and
concrete feedbacks
from our customers
have also helped in
the advancement of
the managerial
activities and
serving the products
as per the demand
prevailing in the
market. Last but not
the least; we are
also looking forward
to provide more
beneficial deals in
the forthcoming
years.
Kokum Garcinia indica
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