Bel, phalsa and shahtoot...What?

If you're under thirty and cosmopolitan to the core, chances are high that you've never

heard of a fruit known as 'bel'. While most have at least heard of or seen phalsa and mulberry, bel draws a blank at most upmarket juice bars and cafes and may be your neighbourhood fruit vendor too. Bel is mentioned in the Atharva Veda and is considered sacred in many parts of the country. The fruit is hard, round and about the size of a cricket ball. The orange flesh is sweet and fragrant and chilled bel juice is a great way to beat the heat. While there is a chance of one finding the bel fruit, it is hard to find shahtoot and phalsa. The fruit vendor may offer you to buy the fruit if order is placed. The phalsa sells at Rs 150 per kg in the capital, and you can buy one bel fruit at approximately Rs 15. Bel is available from April to July and has a long shelf life. It is well known for its medicinal properties which range from curing stomach ailments to purifying blood. Ayurveda considers it a remedy for many ailments of the body. "It is high in fibre and Vitamin C and is a cure for constipation. It is ideal for relief from stomach ailments like peptic ulcers," says nutritionist, Artemis Health Sciences, Fahmina Anwar. Phalsa is a small blueberry like fruit, which is deep red or purple when ripe. It can be eaten fresh, used in desserts or converted into a cooling summer drink. Unlike bel it is easily available at select outlets, which offer phalsa juice on the menu. It is a rich source of sodium, potassium, magnesium and iron. "Phalsa is a blood purifier and it has many medicinal qualities. The leaves, bark and roots are also used to treat a variety of ailments. Though the fruit is expensive, its flavour and colour make it popular when it comes to the market in May. The plant thrives in a variety of soil conditions and is drought tolerant. It is increasingly being cultivated in the US where intensive research is underway to make full use of its medicinal properties. Its biggest drawback is that a few berries ripen at a time so the need for multiple pickings make harvesting the fruit very labour intensive. It also requires careful handling and is suitable only for local marketing. Mulberry is a reddish purple soft fruit with tiny edible seeds. Its high sugar content makes it a good source of instant energy and it can also be dried to increase its shelf life. According to the Chinese system of medicine, it is a blood tonic and its juice is gaining popularity as a health drink in China, Japan and Korea. Mulberries are bought by restaurant chain Nirula’s in large numbers when in season for processing into jam which is sold throughout the year. "Our condiment range is replete with uncommon items like mulberry jam - with whole fruit chunks in it which are priced reasonably because at Nirula's we believe exercising good taste needn't come at a price," says Sr. VP Marketing & Sales, Nirula’s, Sudipta Sengupta. It is evident that processing and marketing is the key factor in making the fruit easily available. Considering the sudden boost in the cultivation of strawberries, there is a very high likelihood of mulberries and phalsa gaining popularity with government incentives. Pointing out that fruit like bel, phalsa and mulberry need special fertilisers which are usually not used for other crops, Secretary-general, confederation of All India Traders, Praveen Khandelwal says that government incentives in the form of tax holidays and soft loans is essential. "Farmers need government incentives and investment in processing equipment. The government should facilitate storage of this fruit in its godowns," says Khandelwal. Horticulture department officials say that even separate data on production of this fruit may not be available as it comes under the category of 'other fruit.' Bureau Report