Health Benefits Of Phalsa: Celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur Can’t Help But Rave About The Phalsa Berry

Celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur recently took to Instagram to spread awareness about the not so popular Indian Sherbet Berry, aka Phalsa. The sweet and sour flavour of the berry is very similar to grapes and jamuns and is perfect to munch on during hot summer days. The reason behind its low production is its low shelf life. Phalsa ripens in small batches and needs to be handpicked individually. If that wasn’t enough, it also needs to be produced locally and consumed quickly since it is extremely delicate and cannot be transported. This could be the reason why Phalsa is restricted to very few cities. Since overripe Phalsa berries are perfect for a refreshing summer drink, knowingly or unknowingly, many of us do have memories of drinking phalsa sherbet during summers.

Check chef Kunal Kapur’s Instagram post here:

Some health benefits of Phalsa include:

• The berry has an immense cooling effect on the body and acts as a safeguard from sunstroke. The fruit is high in Vitamin C and consists of beneficial antioxidants such as sodium and iron.
• The fruit has some medicinal properties too! The paste of the leaves may help with ailments such as eczema. The rawer part of the berry helps in the purification of blood and aids in healing respiratory problems such as sore throat, cold and bronchitis.
• It helps in maintaining your blood pressure and cholesterol as well soothes various liver and gall bladder problems.
• The Phalsa leaf and fruit extract may even function as an agent to fight cancer in the body.

(Also Read: Phalse Ka Sharbat)

Traditional Usage of Phalsa:

• Phalsa juice can be mixed and warmed with carom seeds to relieve stomach pain.
• Phalsa juice is said to soothe burning in your eyes, chest and stomach.
• Combines with rose water and sugar, it is said to aid in providing relief from vomiting and nausea.
• Warm Phalsa juice with ginger and rock salt even helps with respiratory problems and sometimes even with hiccups.

Zero Waste

The best part about Phalsa is that every part of the tree can be utilised, so nothing goes to waste. Its strong wood is used to make spear handles and golf stick shafts. The shoots of the trees are essential for basket weaving. The high fibre in the tree bark is good for making ropes and useful in the clarification of sugarcane juice. The fruit of course is a delicacy enjoyed by many people.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.