That’s the last batch of rose-apples we had last month from the rose-apple tree in our garden. This bell shaped fruit, about 2 inches big, is found only here, in Bengal, in Eastern India. Growing up in the north in India, I actually never saw, or ate or heard of this fruit!! In Bengali it is called Jamrool. Here are some more details about this fruit. It originates in SE Asia, and in countries like Thailand the rose fruit is a deep rose color, hence the name! It belongs to they myrtle family — species that have aromatic oils, like allspice, clove and eucalyptus. And here in Calcutta, it is brought into the city by villagers who harvest it from trees in their backyards. They sit in street corners with a basket filled only with this fruit to sell it. And because it is not grown commercially, it is a very expensive fruit!
It is not an apple but it is wonderfully juicy and crunchy like the apple. It’s a light translucent green in color. The flesh is not so pulpy like that of the apple. And it has a mild sweetness and a wonderful, light lemon fragrance — that makes this fruit an absolutely delightful treat in the summer.
When the tree fruits in the summer — our garden is invaded by birds, beasts and neighborhood children. And when there is a storm — in the morning there is a green carpet of fruits on the ground. It sort marks the season for me!! If the Jamrool flowers, you know summer is almost here.
