Cherri Khaera | เชอร์รี่แคระ | Physalis alkekengi
Family: Solanaceae - Genus: Physalis
The bladder cherry has been seen in the Paksong area alongside the roads.
It is an herbaceous plant of the nightshade family and its fruit, which is a well flavored berry, the size of a cherry, loosely enclosed in a enlarged leafy calyx; -- also called winter cherry, ground cherry, and strawberry tomato.
The Bladder Cherry is in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae - tomato, potato, chilli peppers, and tobacco) and the genus Physalis, this small bush offers a wonderfully tasty treat during the late dry season in Thailand. Once ripe, they taste like a very sweet Cherry Tomato.
Bladder Cherry can be harvested when they change color to dark orange to red, at the end of the dry season (March/April).
THE SHRUB/VINE
This species is native to Asia. It is easily identifiable by the bright orange to red papery covering over its fruit, which resembles paper lanterns. It grows naturally and it is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 40–60 centimeter tall.
THE LEAVES
Leaves of the Bladder Cherry are spirally arranged or 6–12 centimeter long and 4–9 cm broad.
THE FLOWERS
Tiny, creamy-white flowers followed by bright orange-scarlet berries enclosed by papery, red lanterns.
THE FRUIT
The fruit is edible. The fruit has twice the Vitamin C of lemons and resembles a blonde-red cherry tomato with a sweeter taste than its relative, the tomatillo.
NOTE: The unripe green fruits can be toxic and therefore caution needs to be exercised while eating this fruit.
CULINARY USES
NOTE: The unripe green fruits can be toxic and therefore caution needs to be exercised while eating this fruit.
The ripe fruits are edible and surprisingly, are higher in vitamin C than lemons.
The fruit can be used like the tomato. Once extracted from its husk, it can be eaten raw and used in salads. Some varieties are added to desserts, used as flavoring, made into fruit preserves, or dried and used like raisins.
NUTRITION
Physalis fruit are rich in cryptoxanthin. The fruit can be used like the tomato. Once extracted from its husk, it can be eaten raw and used in salads. Some varieties are added to desserts, used as flavoring, made into fruit preserves, or dried and used like raisins.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
This plant is said to speed up excretion of uric acid and is used for renal and urinary tract diseases, gout, and rheumatism. Other properties of this plant include anti-gout, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, laxative, diuretic, antimitotic, and malaria-treating properties.
In Chinese medicine it's used to treat sore throats, coughs, and a fever.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
Comments