Bael Fruit
By: Anonymous

About

A baseball-sized fruit with very hard skin and sticky, aromatic marmalade like pulp. Bael fruits are eaten in many parts of the world. Consumed more for their medicinal properties than taste.

Information
Other names: Indian quince, holy fruit, golden apple, stone apple, Bengal quince
Translations: Bael Augļu, Bael Vaisiai, Bael de fructe, Bael Voće, Bael trái cây, Bael Owoce, Bael फल, Bael Frutas, Bael фрукты, Bael Φρούτα, Bael أثمر., Bael 과일, Bael Ovoce, Buah Maja, 巴埃尔水果, Bael Fruta, Bael Ovocie, Bael פירות, Баел Воће, Baelフルーツ, Bael Frugt, Baelo Fruita, Bael фрукти, Bael Hedelmät, Bael плодове


Physical Description
Bael  fruit is round and roughly the size of a baseball. The fruit  starts out gray-green and turns a pale yellow when it matures. When split open, the fruit will reveal pale orange pulp separated by thick, dark orange walls. The fruit is also studded with resinous hairy seeds, enclosed in an envelope of mucilage. 
Colors: Green, yellow, orange


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Sweet
Mouthfeel: Juicy
Wine complements: Wine complements


Selecting and Buying
Choosing: Choose the healthiest looking fruit. 
Buying: Indian markets or health food stores.
Procuring: The bael  fruit tree grows 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 meters) tall and has dark green leaves with mildly serrated edges. The trunk of the bael  fruit tree is covered in a pale scaly bark and spreads into dropping branches that are often spined. When injured, the tree emits a gummy sap that ultimately solidifies. The flowers are green on the outside and yellow on the inside, and they have a pleasing fragrance that is frequently used in perfume. 


Preparation and Use
The bael  fruit can eaten raw or cooked, and is often utilized in an unripe stage. When unripe, the fruit can be used to treat diarrhea, while the ripened fruit  is a laxative. When used unripe, the fruit  should be boiled and pulped. Some practitioners use the young shoots as well, for the treatment of ulcer and respiratory complaints.
When ripe, the pulp of the bael fruit can be scooped out and eaten plain, or dressed with milk and sugar to make a creamy drink. Bael fruit can also be used to make jams and jellies, which are used by those recovering from intestinal complaints. In general, the fruit is not eaten as much for its flavor as for its medical and purgative properties. 
Cleaning: Clean well with cool, fresh water and dry.


Conserving and Storing
Store wrapped in the refrigerator.  When placing fruit in the refrigerator it is best to place the fruit in perforated bags and in the crisper drawer. Most fruit is best kept at a relative humidity of 90 percent.


Social/Political
Native to India
History: The bael fruit has been cultivated in India for over 4,000 years and is highly valued for its perceived medicinal qualities.