(Written by Ty Theavy)
This tree is called Som Rong in Khmer language, and in
English is Sterculia lychnophora. It bears fruits in March in once every 3
years. Its ripe fruits are expensive. People always collect its fruits by
knocking its trunk down. This tree grows only in the plateau. It is about 15 to
20 meter high. The collectors said the tree start bearing fruits from the age
of 20 years old up. Its flesh surrounding the dried seeds swells to eight times
its original volume when soaked in water, forming an irregularly shaped,
reddish gelatinous mass. After being soaked and the seed kernel removed, the
flesh is mixed with granulated white sugar, ice, and soaked basil seeds, and
drunk as a cooling drink. They are sometimes also used, along with other
ingredients; in sweet, cool soups. People also used it in tea by mixing with
other ingredients such as sugar candy, red date, haw, liquor ice, chrysanthemum
flower, lilyturf root, and jasmine tea. The drinker believed to reduce the
"hotness" of the body, and nurture the body. It also removes heat
from the lung, to cure sore throat, to counteract toxicity, and to relax the bowels.
Therefore, when you have symptoms such as hoarseness of voice, dry cough, and
sore, dry throat due to heat in the lung; constipation with headache and
bloodshot eyes should consume its fruit by putting it into boiling water.
No comments:
Post a Comment