Sugar palm or Toddy palm fruit is also called by the name Palmyra palm. It is called Ice-apple in British English. Palmyra palm tree is the national tree of Cambodia and Borassus flabellifer is its Latin name.
The sweet sap of the Palmyra tree is called Toddy and is used in preparation of palm jaggery. The sap is fermented to make Arrack which is an alcoholic beverage. Almost every part of the tree is useful to mankind. The fan shaped tall tree bears fruits like that of a coconut tree. The pulp is tender and the husk is fibrous similar to that in coconut. The fruit has a black husk and is 4 to 7 inches in diameter. It is borne in clusters. The top portion of the fruit is cut off to reveal the three sweet jelly seed sockets.
The fleshy stems are found to be very nutritious and fibrous. The tender fruit pulp is eaten raw during summer because it gives a cooling effect to the body. The ripened fibrous outer layer of the fruit can be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted.
The ripened pulp of the sugar palm is jelly like tender, flat and round with a light brown skin. The inner portion is a juicy socket structure. It has a mild sweet taste. The pulp or the seeds become harder as they grow older. The nutritional benefits of the sugar palm fruit are as follows-
The fruit is a natural coolant for the body.
The fruit contains vitamin A, B and also Vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid.
It is rich in minerals too. Minerals such as Potassium, Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus and Zinc are found in the fruit.
The pulp from the mature fruit is used to cure Dermatitis.
It is also known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
It has been used in the treatment of nausea and vomiting and also worm infestation.
It has also been used as an expectorant and as a laxative.
The pulp of the fruit is known to cure a number of inflammatory conditions of the skin.
The sap is used as a tonic, laxative, for treating ulcers and liver problems.
