Emblic, emblic myrobalan, Amla
phyllanthe (French), nelli (Tamil), zee-byu/sha-byu/shit-sha (Burmese), ma kham pom (Thai), melaka/asam melaka (Malay), melaka (Indonesian), nelli (Philippines), bong ngot (south) chu me (north)(Vietnam), you gan zi (Chinese), ammaroku (Japanese)
(Phyllanthus emblica or Emblica officinalis — Family Euphorbiacea)
Emblic is a prized fruit of tropical Asia and regarded as sacred by Hindus, whose religion prescribes that it be included in their diet after a fast in order to restore vitality.
The fruit has a very high Vitamin C content; and, during WWII, Indian troops were issued emblic tablets and candies to stave off disease.
The Malay name “melaka” is Sanskrit, and Malacca received its name from the tree.
Commerical growing takes place mainly in the Indian sub-continent, but also in South China and Southeast Asia.
The fruit is round and hard, with six or eight faint ridges. The firmly imbedded stone is also ridged and contains six seeds. When underripe, it is light green, turning to a whitish or dull yellow green or occasionally red as it ripens. The skin is thin, translucent; and the flesh, crisp and juicy.
This is a very sour fruit often used for preserves or is candied.
