Tender palm fruit has picked up in the city

With the temperature on the rise, the sale of tender palm fruit, also called the ice apple, has picked up in the city.Several vendors are seen selling the fruit, locally called as Thaati Munjalu, which is most sought after in summer due to its cooling effect.Small-time traders source the fruit from toddy palm groves seen mostly on the city outskirts of the neighbouring districts.

Anjamma, a vendor and a resident of Bibinagar in adjoining Yadadiri Bhuvangiri district sells the fruit at Tarnaka. She said that the fruit is now available in plenty in the city.“The only problem is we have to travel about 40 km to the city every day. We sell it Rs 40 a dozen for the smaller variety and Rs 60 for a little bigger fruit,” she said.The sale of this translucent jelly fruit is mostly seen at Puranapul, LB Nagar, Bowenpally Road, Aramgarh, Tarnaka, Kukatpally and other areas of the city.

“The fruit is sourced from places as far of 100 km as the palm trees in and around the city were chopped off owing to urbanisation,” said Nagaiah, a vendor at Tarnaka.A few traders are bringing the fruit from the neighbouring districts and supply it to the local vendors.

Palm fruits are loaded with minerals like sodium, potassium, phosphorous and calcium. They help in maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body in summer where one tends lose a lot of water through sweat. “I regularly stop here to buy munjalu for my family. With temperatures in the city soaring, palm fruits help in cooling the body”" said Narsing Rao, a resident of Uppal.