Karonda fruit also called Black Currant scientifically termed Carissa carandas is a traditional summer produce in India that is widely utilised in making pickles, jams and preserves.
Karonda is a fruit plant that grows in dry land hills without needing much water. Karonda fruit is a well-known and useful fruit for the people in the growing areas. These delicious fruits provide a mine of essential nutrients for mankind like vitamins, fat, and minerals.
The scientific name of Karonda is Carissa carandas. Belonging to the flowering plant family saffron is a member of the Apocynaceae family. This fruit is also known as Kavale kayi, Garajla kayi. Karonda plant grows naturally in the Western Ghats and foothills. This plant can also be found in the Himalayan hills. Apart from India this plant also grows in Nepal, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. When the Karonda fruit is ripe it is sweet and sour and its fruit is used to make pickles.
Karonda fruit is available in the summer season from March to May -June. This Karonda fruit looks like a black grape, smaller in size than grapes this fruit is round. The fruit is used for eating as the fruit contains vitamin C it is good for health and its pickle is delicious as the fruit is sour.
Since the fruit contains a chemical called pectin, it is also used in the preparation of jams and jellies.
