Ice Apple, Ice Fruit, Tadgola, Nungu, Summer seasonal fruit, Tender Palmyra Fruit
The local Indian name for the tender palmyra fruit is “tadgola” in Marathi and “Nungu” in Tamil and South India. The Britishers called it “Ice Apple” as it resembles ice. Tender palmyra endosperm is a much sought-after summer delicacy which is being immediately consumed.
Ice apple fruit storage
The keeping quality of fresh endosperm is limited and gets spoiled within a few hours after extraction from the fruit. The results of research studies revealed that under ambient conditions, the tender palmyra endosperm remains of fresh quality for 2 days when packed in LDPE-450 micron film. The quality remains fresh for 8 days when packed in HM40 micron film under refrigerated conditions.
The whole tender palmyra fruit undergoes weight loss and shrinkage after 2 weeks of storage.
About Ice apple fruit
The fruit varies in size and colour; and it has been classified into more than 10 morphological types. The female tree yields the edible products viz., the endosperm, pulp and the tuber. The tender fruit endosperm and palm nectar is a summer delicacy consumed in the Southern and Eastern parts of India. A thick leathery pericarp encloses frequently 3 seeds embedded in fibre enmeshed with a yellow or an orange fruit pulp. When the tender fruit is cut open at the top with a cutting knife, the endosperm which has three sockets are scooped out from the fruit. In each package, three fresh endosperms weighing around 250 gm each are taken. These contain the kernel which is soft as jelly, and translucent like ice. The jelly-like white endosperm carries the watery sweetish liquid (coconut water).
Nutrition Composition of Ice apple (Palmyra) fruit
100 gm of Ripe Ice Apple or Palmyra fruit contains the following nutrients as seen in the table.
| Nutrients | Amount (gms or mgs) |
| Energy (Kcals) | 87 g |
| Moisture | 77 g |
| Carbohydrates | 21 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Fat | 0 |
| Minerals | 1 g |
| Fibre | 0 |
| Calcium | 9 mg |
| Phosphorus | 33 mg |
| Potassium | Rich source (exact dose NA) |
Palmyra fruit Benefits
Ice apple acts as a coolant for the parched throat on a hot summer day. It has the perfect balance of electrolytes, minerals and sugar for the body during the summer season. This fruit is abundantly available during the hot season. It is rich in B vitamins, potassium and calcium. It is used as a remedy for ulcer, urinary tract infection and heat rashes which mainly occur during summer months. For more health benefits of Palmyra fruit, you can read here.
Pallavi Pinge is a Clinical Nutritionist and Dietitian | Content Director & Editor for health websites | has a passion for digital health and enjoys promoting health and wellness. She’s the founder and director of Ambrosia Wellness, where she provides personalized nutrition counseling, education, and coaching to individuals with various health conditions. You can follow her on her social media channels below to stay tuned in with the latest in health and wellness | Health Blog | Contact her for appointments |
