Tender Coconut Hydrates Naturally: Tender coconut is a natural rehydrating drink that has no added chemicals or harmful ingredients. It is the best drink to choose any day. It is very effective in keeping you hydrated, especially during summers. Resolves Stomach issues: The best way to give your upset stomach some time to recover is by replacing your meal with tender coconut. Whether it is due to an infection, ulcer or indigestion, tender coconut can nourish your body and allow your stomach and intestine to recover. Restores electrolytes: Tender coconut water is rich in vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. These help the body to restore the essential electrolytes. On a hot summer day, electrolytes are lost due to sweating and this makes you feel all drained out. Tender coconut helps you replenish them and make you feel more refreshed. Regulates Bowel Movements: Food in the body is digested and the undigested/unwanted ones are passed through bowels. In people who suffer from constipation, these accumulate in the intestine and are toxic. Tender coconut has soluble fiber which eases bowel movement. By consuming tender coconut regularly, one can regulate their bowel movements. Increases blood circulation: Tender coconut water has arginine which helps in increasing the blood circulation to all the internal organs of the body. Prevents kidney stones: Tender coconut is rich in potassium and hence helps keep the kidneys healthy. It acts as a diuretic to flush extra water out of the body and also prevents kidney stones. General Health promoter: Tender coconut water acts like a tonic. It has all the necessary nutrients to fulfill a personâ??s daily need. It is rich in vitamins and minerals. It can even be used to feed infants and is a great a source of nutrition. Aids weight loss: Tender coconut has no fat. It is a very low-calorie drink that can easily replace a meal. It can also be consumed before a meal to reduce binge eating among weight-watchers. It also helps in losing weight by removing excess water weight stored due to heavy sodium consumption. Detoxing: Tender coconut water has properties that remove mineral toxins from the blood. It also helps in eliminating toxins accumulated in the intestine due to poor digestion. Anti-inflammatory: Tender coconut water has great anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce inflammation internally when consumed. It can also be externally applied on a summer boil or a rash to reduce inflammation. Tender coconut is a boon for all of us. It carries great benefits for the human body and can be considered as an essential promoter of good health. This summer, replace your cool drinks and other aerated beverages with tender coconut. Also, drink natural ones instead of packaged options, as they contain added chemicals to increase shelf life. Go natural and stay healthy.
PRODUCT INFO Dimocarpus longan (Lum Yai) , commonly known as the longan, is a tropical tree species that produces edible fruit. It is one of the better-known tropical members of the soapberry family Sapindaceae, to which the lychee and rambutan also belong. The fruit of the longan is similar to that of the lychee, but less aromatic in taste "Anecdotal uses of longan fruit as a natural remedy include: a general tonic to increase energy and boost the immune system. depression. reducing stress. decreasing fatigue. boosting memory. improving memory. snake bites as an anti-venom." SEASON Longan is available between June - August.
PRODUCT INFO Bitter melons are small to medium gourds, averaging 6 to 30 centimeters in length, and have a long and slender, oblong shape with slightly tapered ends. The gourd's surface will vary depending on the specific type, ranging from deeply creased, smooth, pale green, and ridged to rough, dark green, and heavily textured with warts and bumps. The gourd's skin may also exhibit a waxy layer, and some rarer types of Bitter melon showcase a white hue. Underneath the thin skin, the flesh is crisp, watery, and pale green, encasing a central cavity filled with spongy pith and large, cream-colored seeds. Bitter melons are harvested when they are young and green, containing a sharp, astringent, and vegetal flavor. The gourds are also selected when they display a green coloring with a faint yellow hue, an indication of further maturity, rumored to contain a slightly milder, bitter, and acidic flavor. USES Bitter melons have an astringent, bitter flavor well suited for cooked preparations, including stir-frying, baking, saut�©ing, steaming, boiling, braising, and stewing. The melon's sharp flavor complements rich, fatty, and spicy ingredients and is often utilized in different culinary styles found within Asian cuisine. Bitter melons can be consumed raw, but the gourds should be deseeded, salted, and left for approximately 30 to 45 minutes to draw excess moisture and bitterness. Once the bitter flavor is lessened, the melons can be sliced for salads, chopped into dips and spreads, or blended into juices. Bitter melons are also traditionally blanched before use or salted to tame the astringent notes before cooking. The melons can be stirred into soups and curries, stuffed and baked as a main dish, stir-fried with vegetables and meat, or cooked and coated in rich sauces. Bitter melons can also be sliced and roasted as a simple side dish, cut and fried as a rice accompaniment, or pieces of the flesh can be dried and steeped as a healing and cleansing tea. In addition to the melons, the young leaves and shoots of the plants are edible and share the characteristic bitter flavor, used as an accent in salads and soups. Bitter melon pairs well with coconut milk, aromatics including lemongrass, ginger, garlic, and onions, chile peppers, tomatoes, green beans, eggplant, black beans, yogurt, pork, beef, and poultry, and seafood including fish, shrimp, crab, and scallops. Whole, unwashed Bitter melons will keep 3 to 5 days when wrapped in plastic or placed in a sealed container in the refrigerator's crisper drawer. SEASONS Bitter melons are available year-round, with a peak season in the summer.
PRODUCT INFO Bolo Maka (Ma-Uek) is small and round, approximately 1-2 centimeters in diameter. The tiny outer skin is initially green when immature, but then ripens to a yellow or orange and is covered in a fine layer of prickly hair. The inner pulp has many edible seeds and is also yellow or orange. Bolo maka is tangy and have a tropical, floral taste with a crunchy bite. Bolo maka grow in small clusters on a stout, vining perennial bush that reaches heights of just over one meter. The stems, leaves, and branches are also hairy, much like the fruit's outer skin. Bolo maka can be consumed in both raw and cooked applications. The thin exterior skin is edible once the hairy layer is shaved off and they are popularly eaten raw as an appetizer or snack. Many recipes may call just for the juicy, seedy pulp to add a touch of piquant sweet and sourness in sauces and curries. The fruit can be sliced in half and squeezed to release the inner pulp. Bolo maka is often used as a finishing condiment and paired with nam prik kapi, which is a Thai chili sauce made with shrimp paste and lime. Its sweet and sour flavor profile also compliments curries rich in coconut milk or a simple plate of rice. Bolo maka will keep up to a week when stored in the refrigerator. USES Bolo maka can be consumed in both raw and cooked applications. The thin exterior skin is edible once the hairy layer is shaved off and they are popularly eaten raw as an appetizer or snack. Many recipes may call just for the juicy, seedy pulp to add a touch of piquant sweet and sourness in sauces and curries. The fruit can be sliced in half and squeezed to release the inner pulp. Bolo maka is often used as a finishing condiment and paired with nam prik kapi, which is a Thai chili sauce made with shrimp paste and lime. Its sweet and sour flavor profile also compliments curries rich in coconut milk or a simple plate of rice.Bolo maka will keep up to a week when stored in the refrigerator. SEASONS Bolo maka is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Bottle Gourds are creeping vines. The dried mature fruit is used to make shake instruments. Young gourds have light green rinds, white flesh, soft, because they contain up to 96.8 percent of water. Young gourds can be eaten with the peel. If it's a bit older, it needs to be peeled off before cooking. and if you don't want the cut gourds to be dark Soak in salt water Young gourds are usually blanched to eat with chili paste. Add to kaeng liang, som kang, or stir-fry with meat. But should not be boiled or fried for a long time because the meat will be messy. USES The old gourds have a thick peel. The outer bark turns creamy white and hard. The flesh is dry until hollow, light weight, cut off the pole and remove the seeds for planting. The hard bark also has many uses, including: The Chinese use it as a portable water container. It is also considered as a symbol of auspiciousness. It is believed that it will help money grow, have good fortune, and that the gourd is shaped like the number eight. Therefore used to solve feng shui as well. Some African tribes cut it in half and use it as a food container. SEASONS Bottle Gourd is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Pea eggplant are small and round, about the size of a pea and one centimeter in diameter. These tiny fruits are arranged in clusters of ten to fifteen bunched together in a fashion similar to grapes and as the fruits ripen their thin skin will turn from light green to yellow. The fruits grow on shrubs that can reach up to sixteen feet in height. The stems and leaves of the pea eggplant are covered in fine hairs, and small hooked thorns and the flowers of the plant are most often white. Each fruit can contain up to two hundred tiny, flat, brown, and edible seeds. pea eggplant range in flavor from bitter to tart when raw, and their texture is exceptionally crunchy. Once cooked they will take on a soft quality and the bitter flavor is minimized. USES Pea eggplant are used in both raw and cooked preparations. When fresh they are popularly used in nam prik kapee, a chili and shrimp paste blend commonly made in Thailand. They can also be pickled, dried, or served raw with dipping sauces. Pea eggplant can be grilled, braised, added to curries, soups, and stews, or tossed whole or chopped into stir-fries. To cut the bitterness, Pea eggplant can be boiled briefly before use. Pea eggplant pair well with mint, turmeric, cumin, cardamom, curry paste, rice, yams, and meats such as poultry and beef. Pea eggplant will keep up to three days when stored in a cool and dry place. SEASONS Pea eggplants are available year-round with peak season during the summer months.
PRODUCT INFO White eggplants are slightly curved and oblong, averaging 10-17 centimeters in length. The outer skin is smooth and bright white with one bulbous end that tapers slightly to a green calyx. The cream-colored inner flesh is dense with many, edible white seeds. When cooked, White eggplants are creamy and mild with a light sweet flavor. USES White eggplants are best suited for cooked applications such as sauteing pan-frying, deep-frying, grilling, and baking. Their skins are firmer than purple varieties and should be peeled before cooking. They can be sliced and grilled, used in stir-fries, or sauteing with other vegetables as a side dish. They can also be sliced and used as a substitute for meat in pasta dishes such as parmigiana bianca. White eggplants pair well with chilies, tomatoes, squash, stewed meats, grilled and baked fish, chicken, chickpeas, lentils, herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro, and parsley, cheeses such as fresh cow's milk, parmesan, and aged sheep's cheese, miso, ginger, yuzu, garlic, and allspice. White eggplants will keep up to three days when stored in a cool and dry place. SEASONS White eggplants are available during the summer months.
PRODUCT INFO Spinach is a leafy green producing succulent, dark green, spoon-shaped leaves. It offers a subtle, yet assertive vegetal flavor often with iron or metallic notes. Depending upon variety and maturity, Spinach can be sweet, earthy, nutty and even tangy. USES Spinach can be eaten fresh or cook and stands up well to heat, baking and sauteing. Use as in a salad mix or as a dark, leafy green. It is highly versatile and pairs well with spring vegetables, citrus, berries, eggs, nuts, bacon, pasta, cream and fresh cheeses. Flavor with Indian or Middle Eastern spices, creams, ginger, garlic, shallots, chiles and soy. Spinach will keep, dry and refrigerated, for one to two weeks. SEASONS Crayon Spinach is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Banana flowers have a starchy, fibrous consistency and a neutral, subtly bitter, and fruity flavor well suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The outer, dark-hued bracts should not be consumed, but they can be used as a decorative serving vessel. As each bract is removed, the small florets can be separated from their tough stamens and set aside for use with the flower's heart. Once the bracts have been peeled away to reveal a yellow-white hue, the heart can be sliced into pieces and incorporated into recipes. It is recommended to immerse slices of the Banana flower in salted lemon water or vinegar water for at least 20 to 30 minutes to extract some of the bitterness. Banana flowers can be added to fresh fruit and green salads, and younger flowers will have a sweeter flavor for raw preparations. They can also be minced into dips, dumplings, and pastes. USES Beyond fresh preparations, Banana flowers can be lightly steamed and served with dips, similar to an artichoke, boiled in coconut water and stir-fried, or incorporated into curries and soups. The flowers can also be fried into patties, soaked in flavoring, cooked like fish fillets, or sauteed into vegetable, rice, and noodle dishes. In Thailand, young Banana flowers are commonly served raw on the side with pad Thai. In Indonesian cuisine, Banana flowers are mixed with pork and hot sambal, cooked in a section of bamboo, and served as a festival or wake appetizer. In Brazil, Banana flowers are incorporated into pies, quiches, and cooked into various sweet and savory goods. There is also a famous pastry in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais known as pastel de agnu that has its own festival. The festival annually occurs in the city of Itabirito and features food vendors, local growers, restaurants, and arts and crafts vendors, all centered around the famous pastry of the region. Pastel de agnu is comprised of Banana flowers stewed with meat and then fried into a dough-like puff. Banana flowers pair well with spices such as turmeric, curry powder, mustard seeds, cumin, and chile powder, aromatics including garlic, shallots, onions, lemongrass, and galangal, coconut milk, macadamia nuts, lime leaves, papaya, and carrots. Whole, raw Banana flowers should be immediately consumed for the best quality and flavor. The flowers can also be wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator, or cut pieces can be placed in a sealed container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. In addition to fresh Banana flowers, the buds can also be found canned or frozen for extended use. SEASONS Banana flowers are found year-round, varying in availability depending on climate, region, and hemisphere.
PRODUCT INFO Sesban Flower (Dok Khae) are oblong-shaped, pendulous blooms. They are similar in shape to pea flowers, bearing an upright standard petal a curved, boat-shaped keel; and wing petals that spread out from the flower. Each flower is quite large, growing to 7 to 10 centimers long. They are showy blooms, and have white, pink or red petals, depending on the variety. However, the white flowers are preferred for eating. The flowers are rich in sugar, and taste sweet at first bite. They also have an intriguing mushroom-y umami flavour, along with a slight bitter aftertaste. SEASONS Sesban Flower (Dok Khae) are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Coriander Root (Rak Phak Chi) is the root of the herb coriander, which is sometimes called cilantro. While many English-speaking countries discard the roots, they form an important part of many Asian cuisines. Coriander root is the fresh roots of the herb. Ground coriander is a mellow spice with a subtle, slightly earthy hint. Coriander root tastes more pungent and peppery and has a strong, pleasant aroma. In Thai food, coriander root is used as a critical component in many curry pastes and dips. Thais often crush coriander root in a pestle and mortar along with garlic and chilis to form the basis of chili dips. SEASON Coriander root is available year-round. USES The root is also a vitally important ingredient for creating the famous marinade that characterizes Thai grilled chicken. Thais are very against letting good food go to waste, and they quickly recognized that the roots taste great when they form the base of famous curry pastes, soups, dips, and marinades. SEASONS Coriander root is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Yam Bean is a legume. The appearance of the yam tree is a creeping vine. The plump head extends from the taproot. solid conan Square shape, flattened, 1 yam, with only one head. The part used to eat is the tapioca root. USES The head of the yam bean part used for eating Appearance is light brown, inside is white. When chewed, it feels crispy like a fresh pear fruit. It also has a flour-like flavor but is sweet. It is generally eaten fresh. or dipped in salt and pepper It can also be used to cook both savory and sweet dishes as well, such as kaeng som, wild curry, sweet and sour stir-fry, and egg stir-fry. It is a mixture of steamed buns. and Ruby Krob. SEASON Yam beans are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO People use cilantro as a flavorsome addition to soups, salads, curries, and other dishes. In some parts of the world, cilantro refers to the leaves, and coriander refers to the seeds. Its nutritional content may provide a range of health benefits. It is a good source of antioxidants. Using cilantro to flavor food may encourage people to use less salt and reduce their sodium intake. All parts of the plant are edible, but people most commonly use the fresh leaves and dried seeds in cooking. SEASONS Coriander is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Langsat fruits are small to medium in size, averaging 3-7 centimeters in diameter, and are round to slightly oval in shape, growing in large clusters of approximately ten fruits. The thick rind is hard, leathery, and tan to pale yellow, developing brown spots and blemishes as the fruit matures. The rind is also covered in fine hairs giving the fruit a fuzzy appearance. Underneath the surface, there is a white, spongy, and very bitter layer that is easily separated and peeled, and the flesh is thick, translucent-white, and is typically divided into 1-5 segments. These segments are juicy, tender, and soft with a texture similar to grapes, and the flesh may be seedless or contain a few bitter seeds. Langsat fruits are very sour when young, but as they mature, the fruits develop a sweet-tart flavor with light acidity, reminiscent of grapefruit and pomelo. Langsat is an excellent source of vitamins A, B, C, and E, fiber, and also contains some iron, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. USES Langsat is best suited for raw applications as its sweet and tangy flavor is showcased when consumed fresh, out-of-hand. The rind is easily peeled and removed from the flesh, and the segments can be consumed whole, discarding the small bitter seed. Langsat can be served as a snack or as a fresh dessert. It is also commonly segmented and mixed into fruit salads, green salads, juiced or blended into fruit drinks, or coated in syrups for a sweeter flavor to add to ice cream, desserts, and pastries. In addition to fresh preparations, Langsat can be combined into sauces, jams, and jellies for a sweet-tart preserve. Duku pairs well with other tropical fruits such as snake fruit, lychee, and rambutan, mint, basil, and cilantro. The fruits will keep for 3-4 days at room temperature and up to one week when stored in the refrigerator. SEASON Langsat fruits are available year-round in Southeast Asia, with a peak season in the fall through early winter.
PRODUCT INFO Sapodilla (Lamood) has sweet taste. Some varieties of sapodilla have a slight taste of caramel. The flesh is juicy and rather tender, its consistence reminds of a kiwi (that part that has no seeds) or of a peach that is not too juicy. Sapodilla has no specific aroma. USES The only edible thing about sapodilla fruit is its flesh - seeds and skin are inedible. That's why sapodilla is often sold being peeled and cut. If you have bought whole fruit, the quickest and easiest way is to cut sapodilla in segments (like one does it with unpeeled orange or melon), take all seeds out and eat the flesh until you reach the skin. Also you can peel sapodila first (like one does it with potatoes) SEASON The Sapodilla is available between Sep - Dec.
PRODUCT INFO You can eat jujube fruit raw. Small, circle or oval shaped, raw fresh jujubes are extremely rare to find locally grown. Green when they're immature, they become yellow-green with red-brown spots as they ripen and the fully mature fruit is entirely red. But you can enjoy eating them anytime from yellow-green to full red, however, the redder they are the sweeter they'll be. Crisp and sweet, they have a texture reminiscent of an apple. SEASON Jujube is available between Jan - Mar.