The scientific name for the Lapsi tree, Choerospondias axillaris. It is native to the middle hills of Nepal and is also found in Thailand, Vietnam, and China. It is a versatile fruit tree that provides products ranging from fresh fruits to pickles, timber, trekker’s candy, and even a type of fuel derived from the seeds.
When ripe, the fruit is greenish-yellow and resembles a plum. Even when completely ripe, it is highly sour and strong in vitamin C. The fruit has a thick fibrous covering and pale yellow flesh that is tightly wrapped around a huge brown seed. The pulp is difficult to separate from the seeds while raw, but it separates easily when cooked. A ripe Lapsi has a nice tart flavour, and while some people eat it fresh, it is mostly used to produce dried fruit nuggets or fruit leather, both sweet and salty. It’s also pickled, cooked with vegetables, and used as a souring ingredient.
Traditionally valued in rural areas for its lumber and pickled fruit, it has found a new market among urban residents, tourists, and foreigners in recent decades. The rising popularity of this simple fruit has resulted in a growing local market for Lapsi products, and efforts are now being made to further commercialise it.
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Lapsi is used in several Hindu rituals and traditions. These fruits are utilised in numerous rites, such as an offering to the Gods. Lapsi trees are kept in the gardens of numerous temples in Kathmandu, where their fruits are vital to the survival of local monkeys and birds. These pretty large fruit trees can also be seen growing naturally in wild woods and in farmlands. As the demand for Lapsi products has increased in recent years, so has the demand for seedlings to boost agricultural stock.
Photos By: New Nepal Dream
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