summer season unique: bask in Jamuns, the purple Hued Fruit of the Gods
In Hindu mythology, the jamun tree is the lifestyles pressure of our world. The Jambudvipa, consistent with Hinduism: An Alphabetical guide is one in every of seven islands that form the arena, so say the Puranas. “It has 9 divisions,” writes Roshen Dalal, creator of the e-book, “of which Bharatvarsha (the early name of India) is said to be the high-quality. Jambudvipa is called after the jambu (jamun) tree. In a few debts, a massive jambu tree is stated to overshadow the complete continent.” it’s miles stated that the jambu tree launched nourishing fruit that was wealthy with life-giving juices.
someplace else I study that when Lord Rama became exiled from Ayodhya, he lived at the jamun fruit. And that Lord Krishna’s lovely skin is likened to the colour of the jamun, that is why most Krishna temples game a jamun tree or two in their compounds. “however,” writes Ratna Rajaiah in How the Banana is going to Heaven, “the jamun’s most enduring affiliation is with Lord Shiva.” he’s known as Jambunath or Jambukeswara and the Jambukeswara temple, built 1,800 years in the past, nonetheless stands in Tiruchirapalli!
The tree is even sacred to Buddhists who consider that it was under the jamun tree that Lord Buddha first started meditating.
Mythology or no longer, the jamun is a most cherished tree of India. It within reason hardy, grows tall and strong and consequently gives outstanding shade even inside the dry season, and culmination quite regularly. In Pradip Krishen’s delightful trees of Delhi: A subject manual, he writes that it’s far “by means of some distance the maximum common road tree in Lutyens Delhi – planted alongside Tughlak, Rajaji, Tyagaraj, Motilal Nehru, Ferozeshah, Sunehri Bagh Roads, etc. The tallest jamun tree i have seen in Delhi is interior Qudsia Bagh.” Of route, the e book that i’m quoting from become written ten years ago; i am hoping that lovely tree in Qudsia Bagh nonetheless exists and hasn’t been chopped down.
The Nutritious Fruit and Its UsesThe jamun is a tree with many makes use of. not only is the fruit scrumptious, but it is said to be useful in the treatment of diabetes and to reinforce the enamel and gums. The bark is used to make a long lasting brown dye and its wood is specifically famous for systems that remain underwater. In fact, one of a 9aaf3f374c58e8c9dcdd1ebf10256fa5 Ayurvedic logo produces a jamun vinegar that is stated to be beneficial in combating hyperglycaemia, diarrhoea, urine issues and digestive weakness.
every other commercial emblem makes a jamun ras that they declare is one hundred% herbal and sugar free. i have encounter jamun and karelajuice mixture this is said to be extraordinarily beneficial for maintaining spiralling blood sugar stages in test. remaining yr, I even examine approximately a Punjab college researcher who worked on a wine that utilised no longer simply the fruit however additionally the stem and the seed to prepare a liquor that helped deal with diabetes patients.
eating the Jamun
Jamun, eaten by using itself, its astringency plucks at the tongue, growing a nice mouth-puckering effect. but if you aren’t too fond of the flavor as is, worry no longer; the jamun is versatile. you may strive jamun honey, harvested from the jamun flower, its emollient sweetness undercut via the natural sharpness of the jamun. The jamun juice may be very without difficulty available too.
Making jamun jam is pretty easy (see my recipe under wherein I just throw sugar and jamun together and cook), but you could easily purchase it from the stores, with options for sugar-unfastened versions as properly. i have heard that in Delhi’s Kuremal Mahavir Prasad Kulfiwale, you may even buy a jamun kulfi! And of direction, Mumbai-based ice-creamery, natural’s, puts out a scrumptious kala jamun ice cream this is ideal for the new summer season months.
My favored manner to consume jamun even though is simply undeniable, with or without a sprinkle of rock salt. For a snack although, i like munching on strips of dried jamun pulp that are available at a few fitness stores. despite the fact that my family grumbles that they are rubbery and hard to chew (like a form of jamun jerky), i can finish a whole box at one sitting.
Jamun Jam Recipe
300g jamun150g sugarMethod:1. prepare dinner the sugar and the jamuns together in a saucepan till the sugar melts and the jamuns emerge as softer and start liberating their juices. keep on mashing them gently with a spoon.2. once all of the juice is out and you’ve got a lovely lilac-colored pulp, the seeds will be clean to boost out. maintain boiling for ten mins or so till the mixture starts offevolved to froth and turns less runny.3. preserve cooking until it thickens, however now not too much, due to the fact the aggregate will retain to thicken even after it’s far removed from the fireplace (about fifteen mins).four. once it’s far off the hearth, you may, if you like, sieve the combination but i love my jams pulpy.five. Pour all of it right into a clean jar and refrigerate.note: i like my jams to taste greater of the fruit than the sugar, so I placed little or no sugar. you can upload as much as 100g extra sugar, if you want a sweeter jam.also, jamun jam lends itself to diverse flavour combinations and variations – you may placed cinnamon, lemon, vanilla, cardamom, fennel, or any herb that you like, at some stage in the cooking degree.