Wood apple (kodbel)

Description

Wood apple are small to medium size with a hard white-grey mottled shell. The outer shell is as hard as a coconut and needs to be hit firmly with the back of a cleaver to be cracked.

The brown fibrous and seed filled pulp inside, is creamy, soft, pungent and slightly sweet, but more sour – it’s similar to tamarind. Everything inside the shell is edible, however the fibres and seeds are discarded by some.

The unusual fragrance of a wood apple is like raisins and blue cheese combined!

The best way to use this must-try unusual fruit, is to make a juice or chutney, as is common in Sri Lanka and India where it originates.

To make a juice, simply add sugar and water to the pulp.