Mayom | มะยม| Phyllanthus acidus
Family: Phyllanthaceae - Genus: Phyllanthus
Star Gooseberry can be found near the Special School area of the Thai Child Development Foundation and in the area of Paksong.
The Star Gooseberry tree (aka the Malay Gooseberry), is a tree with edible small yellow berries fruit. Despite its name, the plant does not resemble the gooseberry, except for the acidity of its fruits. It tastes sour and tart. The fruit grows in clusters on the trunk of the tree.
Thai people believe that a Mayom tree planted in front of the house will bring fame and success.
Star Gooseberry is harvested in January. As the fruit does not soften when ripe, it is harvested when the fruit begins to drop.
THE STAR GOOSEBERRY TREE
The Star Gooseberry tree can be between 2 to 9 meter high.
The tree's dense and bushy crown is composed of thick, tough main branches, at the end of which are clusters of greenish, 15 to 30 centimetre smaller branches.
STAR GOOSEBERRY LEAVES
The leaves are 2 to 7,5 centimetre cm long and thin, they are green and smooth on the upper side and blue-green on the underside.
STAR GOOSEBERRY FLOWERS
The flowers can be male, female or hermaphrodite. They are small and pinkish and appear in clusters in 5 to 12,5 centimetre long.
Flowers are formed at leafless parts of the main branches, at the upper part of the tree.
STAR GOOSEBERRY FRUIT
The fruits are numerous, oblate, with 6 to 8 ribs, and densely clustered. They are pale yellow or white, waxy, crisp and juicy, and very sour. 4 to 6 seeds are contained in a stone at the center of each fruit.
CULINARY USES OF STAR GOOSEBERRY
Various parts of the plant are used for food.
Star gooseberries can be used for chutneys, beverages and shakes, sugared star gooseberries can be boiled into a jam
In Thailand it can be used as an ingredient to make Som Tam, and as a pickle, sold on every market.
How to use the Star Gooseberry for consumption: cut in half and remove the stone. To juice the fruit, remove the stone, blend the fruit with water in a blender, and drain through a sieve. Because of the fruit’s potency, only a few teaspoons of fruit juice are needed per cup of water. When cooked, Star Gooseberries turn ruby red when cooked.
NUTRITION
100 gram of Star Gooseberry fruit contains:
28 kcal
0 .155 gram Protein
0.52 gram Fat
0.8 gram Fiber
5 milligram Calcium
4 milligram Iron
23 milligram Phosphorous
8 milligram ascorbic acid
1 milligram Thiamine
5 milligram Riboflavin
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF STAR GOOSEBERRY
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
The Star Gooseberry is said to be used as a blood purifier and appetite stimulant. They are also used said to be a remedy
bronchitis,
biliousness,
treatment of digestive disorders such as urinary concretions,
diarrhea
piles.
a concoctions also can act as a liver tonic and blood enrichment remedy.
A concoction of leaf with pepper is said to treat sciatica and rheumatism.
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!
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