Garcinia indica, a plant in the mangosteen family (Clusiaceae), commonly known as kokum, is a fruit-bearing tree that has culinary, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses. It grows primarily in India's Western Ghats: in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. It is considered as an endemic species to the Western ghats and forests in India.[1]
Grancia Indica is a medium-sized evergreen tree. It grows to a height of about 18 mts. The tree has drooping branches.
The fruits ripen in summer. They are berries. The trees bear a lot of fruits in favourable conditions. The fruits are spherical with dimeter of about 5 cm, with indentations on the top at stalk and at the bottom. The fruit has 5 to 8 seeds surrounded by little sweet and sour pulp. It contains some fibers. The fruits are initially green but turn red as they ripen.
The genus Garcinia, belonging to the family Clusiaceae, includes about 200 species found in the Old World tropics, mostly in Asia and Africa. Garcinia indica is an evergreen, monoecious tree,[2] which can grow up to 18 meters high, on maturity attaining a pyramid shape.
The fruit, an orange-sized purple berry with fleshy endocarp,[3] [4] contains five to eight seeds, which account for 20–23% of the fruit's weight. The kernels account for 61 percent of the weight of the seed and about 44% of its oil. The seeds are compressed and embedded in an acidic pulp.
Garcinia indica is indigenous to the tropical forest regions of India. Of the 35 species found in India, 17 are endemic. Of these, seven are endemic to the Western Ghats, six in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and four in the northeastern region of India. The kokum variety from the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts from the coastal Konkan region of the state of Maharashtra in India has received the GI (Geographical Indication) tag.[5]
Garcinia indica is found in forest lands, riversides and wastelands. These plants prefer evergreen forests, but sometimes they also thrive in areas with relatively low rainfall. It is also cultivated on a small scale. It does not require irrigation, spraying of pesticides or fertilizers.
The outer cover of fruit is dried in the sun to get or .[6] It is used as a souring agent typically in Maharashtra, Assam, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat. Kokum yields a distinctive flavour and deep-red colour. As a souring agent, it is used as an alternative to tamarind in curries and other dishes from south India.[4] It is also used in cuisine from Gujarat, where it is frequently used to add flavor and tartness to dal (lentil soup) for flavor balance. It is extensively used in Assamese cuisine in many dishes like masor tenga (sour fish curry) and tenga dali (sour dal).
The fresh fruit is preserved with sugar to make bright-red squash that is diluted with water and bottled for sale as a beverage called Kokum Sarbat.
The extract of the fruit is called in Konkani and Marathi. It is added during the preparation of, which may also include coconut milk, coriander and garlic.
The seed of Garcinia indica contains 23–26% Kokum butter, which remains solid at room temperature. It is used in the preparation of chocolate and sugar confectionery.[7]
The oily extract called Kukum butter is used in ointments and suppositories.[4] It has application in skin and hair products, acne products and skin tonics.[8]
The rind of the fruit is a good source of hydroxycitric acid which has been claimed to modify lipid metabolism.[4]
The tree is ornamental, with a dense canopy of green leaves and red-tinged, tender, young leaves.