Garcinia Indica
By: Anonymous

About

The seed of the Garcinia Indica is used to make candy, the outer cover is dried to get Kokam, a spice substituted for tamarind in curries from Konkan, and it is an essential ingredient of traditional fish recipes of Kerala.
It is popular in Sri Lankan cooking, mostly to preserve fish in a dry and sour curry.

Information
Other names: Biran, Brinda, Mangosteen, Red Mango, Kokum, Bin'na, Bindin, Kokam, Bhrinda, कोकम, Bhinda, Kokum/kokam, Bhirand, Kudam Puli, Panarpuli, Wild Mangosteen, Goraka, Katambi, Amsol/aamsul, Ratamba
Translations: ガルシニアエキスインディカ, غاركينيا هندية, Гарциниа индица, Indica Garcinia, Garcinia indica, Гарциния Indica, Garcinia इंडिका, Indica Garcinia, Гарцинії Indica, 藤黄籼, Garcinia indica, Indica Garcinia


Physical Description
Garcinia Indica is a tropical evergreen tree. It is a wild tree of Western Ghats(Mountains) in south region of India. Garcinia Indica also divides into male and female. Male trees rarely give small fruits and fruit is of no use. It looks more bushy and beautiful and branches are more drooping tendency than female trees. The leaves of male tree are smaller than that of female. . But it flower without seasonal limitation.
Colors: Green, Red, light greenish yellow


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Tangy, salty, spicy
Mouthfeel: Crisp, Chewy
Food complements: Cooked tilapia in green curry sauce with beans
Wine complements: No wine.
Beverage complements: Gujarati dal
Substitutes: Female kokum tree


Selecting and Buying
Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december
Buying: You can purchase online or at your local wholefoods center. 
Procuring: The tree mainly found along coastal belt of Konkan region of Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, Goa, Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada Districts of Karnataka and Kasaragod area of Kerala.


Preparation and Use
You can use Garcinia Indica for making candy, curries and eve make kokum butter. The fruit is edible. Other parts of the plant are used as a dye and were formerly used as purgatives and laxatives but were quite dangerous and are no longer prescribed. 
Cleaning: No cleaning is required. 


Social/Political
It is popularly known as KOKUM tree.