Glossary of Common Fruits of Nepal

Common Fruits of Nepal

In Nepal, fruits are called  Phal-phulharu (рдлрд▓рдлूрд▓рд╣рд░ु). Nepal produces a variety of fruits, probably more than many other subtropical countries. Nepal is situated on the southern slopes of the central Himalayas and occupies a total area of 56,827 sq mi.  Nepal's great biodiversity is associated with the country's exceptional diversity of topography, climate, and agro-ecological conditions.  According to these conditions, Nepal is divided into four main physiographic zones, High Himalayas, High Mountains with alpine or subalpine climate, Mid-Hills with temperate or subtropical climate, and Lowlands with tropical climate.

These four distinct zones make Nepal very rich in cultivated and wild varieties of fruits. According to research done by Madhusudan P. Upadhaya and Bal K. Joshi, there are more than 100 varieties of 15 major fruits.  The authors write, "Pharping cultivators (Kathmandu District) of pear, Junar (variety of sweet orange) which are indigenous to Kathmandu valley and Dhankuta in the Eastern part of Nepal and Sindhuli District -- respectively are also commercial production.  Many cultivators of lime and lemon are indigenous to Mid-Hills of Nepal and popular even in neighboring countries.  These cultivators perform better than exotic clones due to many desirable economical characters. In the case of Citrus fruits, sour orange "Kalo Jyamir", citron "Bimiro" etc. are the indigenous fruit plants cultivated in Sub-Tropical climate areas".


Citrus fruits are usually found in abundance in winter months. The best varieties come from Dhankuta (рдзрдирдХुрдЯा), Terhathum District (рддेрд╣्рд░рдеुрдо ), Sankhuwasabha District (рд╕рдЩ्рдЦुрд╡ाрд╕рднा),  Ilam (рдЗрд▓ाрдо), Sindhuli District (рд╕िрди्рдзुрд▓ी), Ramechhap District (рд░ाрдоेрдЫाрдк), Dhading District (рдзाрджिрдЩ), Kavrepalanchok District (рдХाрдн्рд░ेрдкрд▓ाрдЮ्рдЪोрдХ), Lamjung District (рд▓рдордЬुрдЩ), Syangja District (рд╕्рдпाрдЩ्рдЬा), Palpa District (рдкाрд▓्рдкा), Gulmi District (рдЧुрд▓्рдоी) and Dadeldhura District (рдбрдбेрд▓рдзुрд░ा) area. Some of the unique varieties are produced in large quantities.  The most common are: Suntalaa (Mandarin), Hariyo Kaagati (Lime), Kaagati (Lemon), Nibuwaa (Lemon), Bhogate (Pomillo), Mausham (Sweet Orange), Junaar (Junar Orange), Bimiro (Citron), Kaalo Jayamir (Rough Lemon), Kathe Jyaamir (Rough Lemon), Keep (Spur Orange), Chaaksi (Sweet Lime), Shanktro (Grapefruit), and Muntalaa (Kumquat).  Please check the botanical names under the glossary of fruits.


In the Terai regions, tropical fruits like -  Aamp (Mango), Katahar (Jackfruit), lichi (Lychee), Keeraa (Banana), Sarifaa (Custard Apples)  and many other varieties grow in great numbers.  The best varieties come from Bara District (рдмाрд░ा), Parsa District (рдкрд░्рд╕ा), Sarlahi (рд╕рд░्рд▓ाрд╣ी), Chitwan District (рдЪिрддрд╡рди), Kapilvastu District (рдХрдкिрд▓рд╡рд╕्рддु), Nawalparasi District (рдирд╡рд▓рдкрд░ाрд╕ी), Dang Deukhuri  (рджाрдЩ्рдЧ рджेрдЙрдЦрд░ी),  Kavrepalanchok District (рдХाрдн्рд░ेрдкрд▓ाрдЮ्рдЪोрдХ), Dhading District (рдзाрджिрдЩ), and Nuwakot District (рдиुрд╡ाрдХोрдЯ).  Nepal has a complex topography with hills and flat lands.  Many fruits that are grown in the remote areas are hard to transport due to the lack of basic transportation.  These areas often lack adequate storage facilities.  It is imperative that Nepal develop the fruit industry to help the economy.

It is common knowledge that in every season there is a special kind of fruit.  All the seasonal fruits in Nepal are tree-ripened and have a delicious taste, texture, flavor and color.  Some of the fruits that are grown in Nepal are definitely "must try".   The most popular ones are the exotic loose-skin tangerine, delicious mangoes, guavas bursting with flavor, custard fruit, the mild flavored papaya and the brown-skinned-juicy-crunchy pear.


In Nepali culture, fruits play an important role in many festive occasions and religious rituals.  They are considered one of the most auspicious foods  offered to deities as a part of devotional worship offerings. The religious rituals are never complete without offering some fruits (coconut, banana, bel fruit, sugarcane) along with flowers, incense, Naivedya sweets (food made especially for deities), holy water and light.  Different fruits are used for specific religious occasions.  Fruits like bananas are considered good luck and are given to people who are about to travel. 


Most of the pictures in my blog were captured in the colorful open-air market around Indra Chowk square and the historic district of Asan Bazaar in Kathmandu.  In the early hours of morning time, the farmers and fruit vendors set up produce stalls and are ready for service.  The locals have a great selection of seasonal or year around fruits to choose during the peak season.   You may see a local farmer balancing a bamboo pole across his shoulders, holding two wicker woven baskets full of freshly picked fruits and vegetables, heading to the market.  In Nepali vegetable markets, one can experience the proud skills of vendors arranging every tiny space with a dramatic display of vegetables and fruits. On many street corners, vendors set up their wicker baskets stands,  with freshly picked fresh fruits and vegetables.  The most popular ones are green Gooseberry, Lichi fruit, Labsi (Hog plum), Guava, and Tangerines.


The vegetables are sold in the markets weighted in a hand-held local scale, known as Taraaju, which comes in a variety of sizes and forms.  Measurements are done in kilograms.  Most Nepali households do not store fresh vegetables and fruits, so they are bought fresh every day.

I am so glad to be able to compile the glossary of the most common fruits of Nepal and present it to you in my blog. I trust the glossary is useful to you, but I am still looking for some pictures of fruits that I wanted to add to the lists.  I have included the images of the fruits along with Nepali, Scientific and Common names of the most fruits of Nepal.  Most of the information was collected from several journals, research papers and a book on the introduction to Nepalese Food Plants.  Please go through the images and check the scientific names and if you find it incorrect in some cases, please let me know what I missed. Since I am not a botanist, there may be some inaccuracy.  I would deeply appreciate your feedback - so that I can revise and make corrections.

  

I will be dividing the "visual guide to the fruits of Nepal" into three different sections.  Please check each one out.  I hope you will have much fun as I have had putting together the virtual tour of Nepali fruits.  Please drop me a few lines in the comments section of the blog.  Your comments and feedback are important and I would love to hear from you. 

Apple -  Shaayau - (рд╕्рдпाрдЙ) - Malus sylvestris

Apricot - Khurasani - (рдЦुрд░ ् рдкाрдиी) - Prunus armeniaca L.

Avocado - Gheuphal - (рдШीрдЙрдлрд▓) - Persea americana

Banana - Kerala - (рдХेрд░ा) - Musa paradisiaca

Barberry, Nepal - Chutro - (рдЪुрдд्рд░ो) - Berberis aristata Dc.

Bayar (Chinese Date, Indian Plum) - (рдмрдпрд░) - Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk

Bay-Berry - Kaaphal - (рдХाрдлрд▓) - Myrica esculenta

Bead Plum - Haade Bayer - (рд╣ाрдбेрд╡рдпрд░) - Ziziphus incurva Roxb

Blueberry - Neelo Aaiselu - рдиीрд▓ो рдРрд╕ेрд▓ु

Cherry - Paiyun - (рдкैрдпुँ) - Prunus cerasoides D. Don

Coconut - Nariwal - (рдирд░िрд╡рд▓) - Cocos nucifera L.

Custard Apple or Sugar Apple - Sariphaa - (рд╕рд░ीрдлा) - Annona squamosa L.

Date - Khajoor - (рдЦрдЬूрд░) - Phoenix sylvestris Roxb.

Fig - Anjir, Nevaro - (рдЕрди्рдЬिрд░, рдиेрднाрд░ो) - Ficus carica L.

Goji berry - Goji Beri - (рдЧोрдЬी рдмेрд░ी) - Lycium barbarum

Gooseberry, Indian - Amalaa - (рдЕрдорд▓ा) - Emblica officinalis

Grape - Angoor -Daakh - (рдЕंрдЧुрд░, рджाрдЦ) - Vitis vinifera L.

Grapefruit - Sankhatro - (рд╕ंрдЦрдд्рд░ो) - Citrus paradisi Macf.

Guava - Ambaa or Ammaa - (рдЕрдо्рдмा) - Psidium guajava L.

Jack Fruit - Rukh Kathar - (рд░ुрдЦ рдХрдЯрд╣рд░) - Artocarpus heterophylla Lamk

Java Plum, Black Plum - Jaamun - (рдЬाрдоुрди) - Eugenia jambolana Lamk.

Kumquat - Muntalaa - (рдоुрди्рддрд▓ा) - Fortunella joponica Swingle

Lapsi - Nepalese Hog Plum - (рд▓рдк्рд╕ी)

Lemon (very sour) - Jyaamir - (рдЬ्рдпाрдоिрд░)

Lemon, Rough - Kaathe Jyamir - (рдХाрдаे рдЬ्рдпाрдоीрд░) - Citrus jambhiri

Lemon, Citron - Bimiro - (рдмिрдоिрд░ो) - Citrus medica L.

Lemon, (chook-amilo lemon) - Kaalo Jyamir - (рдХाрд▓ो рдЬ्рдпाрдоीрд░) -  Citrus junos Tanaka

Lemon (yellow) - Nibuaa - (рдиीрдмुрдЖ) - Citrus limon Burm

Lime (green) Kaagati - (рдХाрдЧрддी) - Citrus aurantifolia Swingle

Lime sweet - Chaaksi - (рдЪाрдХ्рд╕ी) - Citrus limettioides Tanaka

Lychee, Lichee - Lichi - (рд▓िрдЪी) - Nephelium litchi camp.

Loquat – Loquat - (рд▓ौрдХाрдЯ) - Eribotrya eliptica

Mango - Aanp - (рдЖँрдк) - Mangifera indica L.

Mulberry (black, red, local) - Kimbu - (рдХिрдо्рдмु) - Morus alba L., Morus rubra L., Morus bombycis Koidzumi)

Oleaster - Maadilo - (рдорджिрд▓ो) - (Elaeagnus latifolia L.)

Orange - (Mandarin, Tangerine, Satsuma orange, Loose skin Orange) - Suntalaa - (рд╕ुрди्рддрд▓ा) - Citrus reticulata Blanco

Orange (sweet or Malta orange) -  Maushambi - (рдоौрд╢рдо्рдмी) - Citrus sinensis Osbeck

Orange - Junaar - рдЬुрдиाрд░ - Citrus sinensis

Orange Keep, (Spur Orange, Bitter Orange) - Keep - (рдХीрдк) - Citrus aurantium L.

Papaya - Papitaa or Mewaa - (рдкрдкिрддा рдЕрдерд╡ा рдоेрд╡ा) - Carica papaya L.

Peach - Aaru - (рдЖрд░ु) - Prunus persica Stokes.

Pear - Nashpaati - (рдиाрд╕्рдкाрддी) - Pyrus communis L.

Pear Chinese  - Chinia Naspaati - (рдЪिрдиिрдпा рдиाрд╕рдкाрддी) - Pyrus: pyrifolia Nakai.

Persimmon - Haluaabed -  (рд╣рд▓ुрд╡ाрдмेрдж) - Japanese persimmon - Diospyros kaki

Persimmon - Haluaabed -  (рд╣рд▓ुрд╡ाрдмेрдж) - Diospyros virginiana L.Physalis

Plum - Alubukharaa - (рдЖрд▓ुрдмрдЦрдбा) - Prunus domestica

Pineapple - Bhuin Katahar - (рднुрдЗँ рдХрдЯрд╣рд░) - Ananas Comosus

Pomegranate - Anaar, Daarim - (рдЕрдиाрд░ - рджाрд░िрдо) - Punica granatum L.

Pomilo or Pummelo - Bhogate - (рднोрдЧрдЯे) - Citrus grandis Osbeck

Quince - Nepali Shaayau - (рдиेрдкाрд▓ी рд╕्рдпाрдЙ) - Cydonia oblonga Mill.

Raspberry Himalayan - Ainselu - (рдРंрд╕ेрд▓ु) - (yellow, red, black) - Rubus ellipticus Smith

Sati Bayar - (Nepal sumac) - Satibayar - (рд╕рддि рд╡рдпрд░) - Rhus parviflora Roxb.

Starfruit - Kantaraa - (рдХрди्рддрд░ा) - Carambola

Strawberry - Straberi - (рд╕्рдЯ्рд░рдмेрд░ी) - Fragaria ananassa

Wood Apple, Bengal quince - Bel - (рдмेрд▓) - Aegle marmelos Corrg

Walnut (thick shell Black) - Haade Okhar - (рд╣ाрдбेрдУрдЦрд░) - Juglans regia L.

Water Melon - Kharbooza or Kharbujaa - (рдЦрд░्рдмुрдЬा) - Cucumis melo L.

Wild Pear - Mayal - (рдордпрд▓) - Pyrus pashia Buch-Ham

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