I was quite a mischievous kid and Daadi (my grandma) was my partner in crime. In times of potential smack sessions from Ma, I would run to Daadi for cover and hide behind her. As an adept negotiator, my Daadi would swing into action and wheedle Ma out of her rage. I re-appeared promptly after the storm passed and Daadi pushed a candy into my mouth. A modest battle won!
A ten-year old and a sixty-five year old had a lot in common. I went temple-hopping with her and catching up with peers. She would take me out to play and accompany me on errands. She was always the first one I hugged when I returned from school and the bond I shared with her was incredible. Among other things she liked, she devoured fruits - especially custard apples and so did I.
This visit, rambling in the garden back home I spotted a custard apple that sent me into flashback. I remembered days when Daadi would keep a watchful eye on the ripening custard apples and shoo off squirrels and parrots that nimbled away the fruit in no time. Disappointed with her failed attempts to rescue, she picked the remaining semi-ripe ones off the tree, wrapped them in newspapers and set them in our flour container in the kitchen. It took about two days to ripen, and ten minutes to eat. Besides, she used to make some great custard apple milk shake.
The custard apple (also known as bull's heart, sitaphal, shareefa, aata) tree we have at home is not too tall, about 10-12 feet. It prefers a warm and humid climate and needs good care during the oppressive summers of Northern India. The fruits have high nutritional value and considered useful in treating anaemia.I dedicate this post to my Daadi I couldn't be with when she breathed her last.
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This is one fruit that I miss eating with my late father :-) My father liked this fruit a lot. Its sweet and juicy pulps are so nice to eat though lots of seeds. Have a pleasant evening!
ReplyDelete@Stephanie: It's amazing how we associate memories with the green! Thanks for spending your time on my blog.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about your blog is, your written words always brings the picture alive and one is able to participate in the joy of watching a daadi and a natkhat poti. Will be back for more.
ReplyDelete@Raja: Many thanks for your encouraging words. Motivates me to go on...:)
ReplyDeleteHere we have a similar looking fruit called sugar apples and are delicious. There are also some custard apple trees but have never tasted them. You have written a beautiful and endearing post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. And thank you for introducing me to a fruit I have never heard of. It sounds delicious :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the story...and even more...I have not even heard of this apple!!! I now need to go look for one!
ReplyDeleteI am sure your daadi is smiling down at you right now.
Lovely story, thanks UG. I love custard apple. I can get some here in Australia, but I don't like them as much as the ones I had from our garden in Malaysia where I grew up.
ReplyDelete@Helen: Always good to see you :) I imagine sugar apple could be another name for custard apple. I googled and found them to be just the same.
ReplyDelete@Ms S: Thanks for coming by, and am glad you've found this new and interesting. hope to see you more often.
ReplyDelete@Tootsie: Thanks, thanks and many thanks!
ReplyDeleteHope you find this one soon.
@Evelyn: Thanks for stopping by. I do agree that the taste of custard apples vary significantly in different countries. Infact, you'd be surprised how the taste varies in the several states of India.
We have two baby custard apple trees in our house. Waiting eagerly for them to bear fruit!
ReplyDeleteMany friends are sceptical about them growing in Gurgaon. But if they grow in Delhi, they will, in Gurgaon too. Thanks for the blog.
@IWC: Of course, they'd grow in Delhi and in Gurgaon. Fertilize at a time before dormancy else the nutrients are not absorbed. 1:1:1 or 1:2:1 ratio of of nitrogen, phosphorus, potash should work well. Mix the fertilizer into the soil and water to let it seep. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteReally lovely story!!
ReplyDeleteI love these plants.. Thanks for sharing this ..
brustkrebs
@Neil: Thanks for stopping by. See you around :)
ReplyDeleteI also love the fruit a lot, and wish that I too had a lovely memory to hold on with this fruit. Well, I guess I'll revel in your soulful memories till then.
ReplyDelete@Green thumb: Ah! Give your mind the extra nudge, and memories come streaming out. I'm sure you'll have some other story to tell, while I'll wait it out :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a heart warming memory to have with this fruit. I am so sorry you no longer have your beloved Grandmother, you were both so lucky to be able to be *partners in crime*. Your mother did not stand a chance when you had Daadi protecting you. I hope to have that relationship with my grandsons as well. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
You have been so sweet in visiting my blog so often and here I make very sporadic visit to yours (red faced that I am : )
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely story about your bond with your grandmother and the memories of that connection through this amazing fruit , I have not heard of . You are so very lucky to have had that relationship and I read through this story how much your appreciated it too !
You have grown up in an amazing country with such colourful tales to be told : )
Thank you for sharing them !
Joy (Sophie & Emma too ! ^..^ ^..^)
UG, This is truly a touching story, well told. It has brought back fond memories for me of my grandma too, yes, similar to your title 10 and 60. We used to have this custard apple tree. Granny knew when to pluck it at the right moment and she will put in among the rice in our rice container to ripen it. There are actually many seeds but the flesh is soft and sweet which is very delicious to eat. She will share this with me, afterall we are the only members in our family who loved this fruit.
ReplyDeleteBravo, what words..., a brilliant idea
ReplyDelete