Appears in
Oxford Companion to Food

By Alan Davidson

Published 2014

  • About

emblic or emblic myrobalan Phyllanthus emblica, is a prized fruit in tropical Asia. Commercial growing takes place mainly in the Indian subcontinent, but the tree is also cultivated in S. China and parts of SE Asia. It is regarded as sacred by Hindus, whose religion prescribes that the fruits be eaten for 40 days after a fast in order to restore health and vitality.

Burkill (1965–6) states that the Malay name melaka is Sanskrit in origin, and that Malacca received its name from the tree.

The fruit is round, and almost stemless: light green when underripe, and ripening to a whitish or dull yellowish-green, or occasionally red. There are six and sometimes eight faint ridges extending from the base to the apex, which give the appearance of its being in segments, and it is hard to the touch. The skin is thin and translucent, the flesh crisp and juicy. The firmly embedded stone is ridged and contains six seeds.