E is for Elephant Apple: Yummy Fruits A-Z

Like durian, the elephant apple (or wood apple)* has a strong odor, and is a favorite of elephants, thus the reason for its name. It is enjoyed by many people in the non-western world.  

Elephant apple trees are native to Indonesia and also found in India, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Trees grow to around 25 feet. The fruit has been compared to an unripe apple in taste and has a wood-like shell that must be cracked to open.  


Nutritionally, it is a good source of phosphorus and vitamin C, and even contains calcium. In India in particular the elephant apple has been used for centuries for various cures, as treatment for nervousness, stomach upsets, fatigue, dandruff, and hair shedding. Other sources cite anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Elephant Apple Recipe

Elephant apple is used in curries, chutneys, and beverages. It is also used to make pickled condiments and jellies.

*Eating a Wood Apple (video link) 

(Don't miss this. He convinced me it's really good!)

*Note: Many online sites refer to this fruit as either elephant or wood apple, as one and the same apple. But they really are two different apples, according to one site, so I add this qualifier. Wood apples are mostly found in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and India and have a different taste (as in video). Elephant apples are much tarter when fresh and have apple-like flesh and color (see recipe video).

Sources:

http://theindianvegan.blogspot.com/2012/10/all-about-elephant-apple.html

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

The Shells We Collect . . .

It is interesting . . . the things we collect . . . how they become the inspiration and details behind the tales we write. On my desk sits a small shell collection gathered from a remote beach in Mersing, Malaysia.

I became an avid collector of shells while living in Kluang, Malaysia with my husband for nine incredible months. Some years later I am still impacted by that life-changing experience, and my home has a definite Asian feel to this day (elephants everywhere . . . and more).

The Mersing shells hold top billing on my desk at present. Small and unremarkable to the eye at first glance, they are the basis of a novel I am writing. They sit atop a small box holding a collection of sailing knots and instruction for the novice sailor (also in my novel). The box is titled, "Learn the Ropes," and indeed, since I am still learning the ropes as a writer, it seems perfect.

However, I do know how to sail. For a time I borrowed every sailing saga I could get my hands on. I loved the adventure of sailing and the thrill of learning something new. I finally talked my husband into buying a small Montgomery 15-foot sailboat, which led to a week long camping trip in the San Juan Islands (WA). The sails I take . . . or the adventures I make . . . continue to have their allure.  

Copyright 2011 © Sharon Himsl
 

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing