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| Dimensions in meters | 20–30 m tall; its leaves span 3–6 meters in diameter |
| Maturity of tree before yields | 12-20 years |
| Productivity lifetime | 100+ years |
| Seasonality | In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, flowering and fruiting occurs between February–July. Fruits are usually harvested during the dry season, which varies by latitude. |
| Production zones and cultivation methods | Produced primarily by smallholder farmers in coastal areas. The giant palm thrives in arid conditions, and its fruit is harvested by hand. A mature fruit can produce between 200–300 fruits each year. |
Per 100 g edible portion (EP)
| Palmyra fruit is rich in calcium and phosphorus; it is also a source of vitamin C and contains almost zero fat.
The palm jaggery, which is derived from the tree’s sap, is more nutritious than crude cane sugar, and the fresh sap is a good source of vitamin B complex. |
|
| Energy (kcal) | 102 kcal |
| % Daily Value (DV) * | ||
| Macronutrients | Carbohydrates: 20.57 g | 7 % |
| Proteins: 1.58 g | 3 % | |
| Fats: 0.67 g | 1 % | |
| Key Minerals | Calcium: 8.76 mg | 1 % |
| Phosphorus: 33 mg | 3 % | |
| Key Vitamins | Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): 16 mg | 18% |
| Thiamine (Vitamin B1): 0.04 mg | 3 % | |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 0.02 mg | 2 % | |
| *All Daily Recommended Values are calculated using the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s recommendation guide. | ||
Found in South and Southeast Asian countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Socotra (Yemen), Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Thailand and Vietnam.
Palmyra fruit is eaten raw while the outer layer is still unripe. If left to mature, the outer layer can also be eaten raw, boiled or roasted. The fruit is similar in taste to lychees and has a jelly-like consistency. It is often used in curries, desserts and sweet coconut drinks. The sap from the tree can be fermented into a palm “toddy” (wine) or boiled down to make sugar blocks, also known as palm ‘jaggary.’ On some Indonesian islands, this sugar is a primary source of carbohydrates for local diets. Additionally, the palm tubers are a source of edible starch that can be made into flour.
The fruit also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In East Java, Indonesia, it is often used in traditional medicine; the bud is especially used as a diuretic. The palmyra’s leaves have also been shown to have strong antibacterial and antifungal properties when measured in a lab setting.
In India, the tree is referenced in the “Tala Vilasam,” a famous Tamil poem, as a “tree of life” with 801 uses ranging from food and medicine to carpentry and roof thatching. Palmyra wood is used in construction and can also be made into charcoal. Its leaves are used in basket weaving or for thatch. In addition, its majestic height makes it a popular ornamental tree.
In certain areas of India, Cambodia and Indonesia the palmyra tree is also a cultural symbol; for example, it is mentioned in the Hindu epic, “Mahabharata.” Some sources claim that the inventor of the Sanskrit alphabet used the palmyra palm leaves as writing material over 6,000 years ago. The tree’s mention in these and numerous other Indian texts and proverbs has earned it a reputation for having magical or mystical properties. Today, it is the official tree of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
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Jansz, E.R., Wickremasekara, N.T. and Sumuduni, K.A.V., 2002. A REVIEW OF THE CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF SEED SHOOT FLOUR AND FRUIT PULP OF THE PALMYRAH PALM (BORASSUS FLABELLIFER L). Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 30(1-2), pp.61–87. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v30i1-2.2562
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Pooja Srivastava Banerjee, M. P. (2015). Health Benefits of Palmyra Fruit. Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/top-4-health-benefits-of-palmyra-fruit.htm
Vengaiah et. al. “Physio-Chemical Properties of Palmyrah Fruit Pulp (Borassus Flabellifer L.).” Journal of Nutrition & Food Science, vol. 5, no. 5, Jan. 2015. Research Gate, www.researchgate.net/publication/283237751_Physico-Chemical_Properties_of_Palmyrah_fruit_Pulp_Borassus_flabellifer_L, 10.4172/2155-9600.1000391. Accessed 25 Aug. 2021. https://www.longdom.org/open-access/physicochemical-properties-of-palmyrah-fruit-pulp-borassus-flabellifer-l-2155-9600-1000391.pdf
Jamkhande, Prasad G., et al. “Biological Activities of Leaves of Ethnomedicinal Plant, Borassus Flabellifer Linn. (Palmyra Palm): An Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antioxidant Evaluation.” Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, vol. 54, no. 1, June 2016, pp. 59–66, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bfopcu.2016.01.002 Accessed 14 Sept. 2021.
Saidi, IA. “Uses of Palmyra Palm Plant Parts in Three Regions of East Java Indonesia.” African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, vol. 21, no. 5, 2021, pp. 18–55, https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.100.18100 Accessed 14 Sept. 2021.
