<p>Fruits are nature’s gifts packed with goodness. Some are known for their taste, and others for appearance. Well, star fruit is certainly known for both. Carambola, the fruit of averrhoa carambola, is known by different names like <span class="italic">kamrakh</span> in Hindi, <span class="italic">carmbala</span> in Marathi and Konkani, <span class="italic">kaparakhi hannu in Kannada, vajrappuli in Malayalam etc.</span></p>.<p>A tropical and sub-tropical fruit that thrives in humid areas with good sunlight and rainfall, its tree takes four to five years to bear fruits. Star fruit has been cultivated for more than hundreds of years in Southeast Asian countries, with Malaysia leading in its production and exports.</p>.<p>The fruit turns yellow as it ripens, but its already low-sugar content of around 4% does not increase. This, along with its low-sodium content, makes it a favourite with the health-conscious. </p>.<p>Star fruit is used in jams, seasonings, salads, preserves, juices, cooked as a vegetable, or with fish. In our country, they go into fruit chats in North and the unripe ones land into pickles and as souring agents in curries in South.</p>.<p>Rich in vitamin C, star fruit also contains iron, potassium, zinc, carbohydrates, folate, protein, dietary fibre, magnesium and antioxidants. The fruit extracts are said to have anti-microbial activity. The juice of the fruit, boiled with candy sugar to a jam consistency, and taken regularly, is known to relieve respiratory and lung-related issues. </p>
<p>Fruits are nature’s gifts packed with goodness. Some are known for their taste, and others for appearance. Well, star fruit is certainly known for both. Carambola, the fruit of averrhoa carambola, is known by different names like <span class="italic">kamrakh</span> in Hindi, <span class="italic">carmbala</span> in Marathi and Konkani, <span class="italic">kaparakhi hannu in Kannada, vajrappuli in Malayalam etc.</span></p>.<p>A tropical and sub-tropical fruit that thrives in humid areas with good sunlight and rainfall, its tree takes four to five years to bear fruits. Star fruit has been cultivated for more than hundreds of years in Southeast Asian countries, with Malaysia leading in its production and exports.</p>.<p>The fruit turns yellow as it ripens, but its already low-sugar content of around 4% does not increase. This, along with its low-sodium content, makes it a favourite with the health-conscious. </p>.<p>Star fruit is used in jams, seasonings, salads, preserves, juices, cooked as a vegetable, or with fish. In our country, they go into fruit chats in North and the unripe ones land into pickles and as souring agents in curries in South.</p>.<p>Rich in vitamin C, star fruit also contains iron, potassium, zinc, carbohydrates, folate, protein, dietary fibre, magnesium and antioxidants. The fruit extracts are said to have anti-microbial activity. The juice of the fruit, boiled with candy sugar to a jam consistency, and taken regularly, is known to relieve respiratory and lung-related issues. </p>