April Fruits at the Dadar Market

Come summer and you see many handcarts selling jackfruit and tadgola at the Dadar market.The size of jackfruits can be astounding.The largest is said to be 70 kg. Here you see them sliced open and turned out,exposing the yellow fruit.

This one was from Kerala.A helpful gentleman buying some told me that those from the Konkan come around the rainy season.He also told me how one has to apply coconut oil on one's palms while cutting else one gets the sticky gum on one's hands.I tried the jackfruit and it was sweet and moist.The seller told me not to store it in a plastic bag as then it leads to gas formation.I put it in an open plate and my fridge was filled with its sweet aroma.

I was reminded of my adventures with a smaller but similar looking fruit called "Durian".This I had in USA at a Chinese restaurant where I ordered a Boba Drink(having balls of tapioca) with Durian.I tell you,there cannot be a stinkier fruit! Not having it again! Yet it is quite popular in the South-East where some even have it with rice.

Jackfruit is eaten by itself or made into a biryani,made into jam or filled into pancakes.

The other fruit I had was the Palmyra fruit or Tadgola.It is covered with a beige skin which one has to gently peel out so that the juice at the centre of the fruit doesn't spill out.Tadgola is transparent and jelly like.Quite like the lychee in texture but not as sweet.One has to chose medium size ones as the large ones aren't tender.

It has a cooling effect and is also called Ice Apple! Summer time has a lot to look forward to!