Rose Apple – Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Rose apples are small, round or oval fruits that are usually between 2 and 5 centimetres in diameter. The end that doesn't have a stem tapers to a point and is topped with a green calyx. The skin is smooth, waxy, thin, and tight. When the fruit is ready, it goes from green to a bright yellow colour. Under the skin, the flesh is white to pale yellow and has a crisp, spongy, semi-dry texture with a light floral scent. The flesh also has a hollow space inside that holds one to four rough, brown seeds that fall out when the fruit is ready, making a rattling sound when you shake it. Rose apples are crunchy and light. They taste sweet and fruity at first, then have floral notes of rose.

What are rose apples?

The rose apple is a tropical fruit that looks like an egg and is pale yellow with a touch of pink when it's ready to eat. The rose apple comes in many different kinds, some of which are dark red, purple, and white. Before the fruits grow, the tree has clusters of flowers that smell sweet.

The rose apple tree is a small tree or bush that grows to a height of about 6 metres. The tree also has shiny greenish-yellow leaves that change to a lighter green over time.

Rose apples, which are called Syzygium jambos by botanists, are small tropical fruits in the Myrtaceae family. Rose apples have spread to tropical and subtropical areas all over the world. They come in many different colours, such as yellow, green, and red, and the small fruits are also called Malabar plums and Plum roses. Rose apples grow on big, wide-spreading trees that are mostly used as decorations. They provide shade and can be used as property barriers because of how thick their growth is. Due to their thin, easily damaged skin and short storage life, the fruits are not grown commercially. Instead, they are usually picked from wild trees and used to add flavour to desserts, salads, and drinks.

Are rose and rose apples related?

Even though the fruit is called a Rose apple, it has nothing to do with roses or apples. It got its name because it has a faint taste of roses and a crisp, apple-like texture.

Taste of rose apple:

Even though it's called an "apple," this tropical fruit doesn't taste anything like an apple. The rose apple has a light, crunchy, sweet, fruity flavour with hints of rose. Not only is the fruit of the rose apple healthy, but so are the leaves and bark. Because it tastes so fresh, the rose apple can be eaten right after it is picked from the tree.

Nutritional content of rose apple: 

Rose apples are a good source of the antioxidant vitamins A and C, which can significantly minimise inflammation in the body and make the immune system stronger. The fruits also have calcium, iron, and magnesium in smaller amounts. They also have fibre, potassium, and iron. Rose apples serve as a digestive aid and to clean the bowels and liver in traditional Asian medicine. This helps clean the body and mind as well.

Culinary use of rose apple:

Rose apples taste best both raw and cooked, like when they are simmered. When the fruits are fresh, they can be eaten right out of hand as a snack to show off their light, sweet, rose-like taste. Fruit platters, salads, or a fresh side dish made with soy sauce, sugar, and chile peppers can also be made with the fruits. In Southeast Asia, Rose apples are often dusted with spiced sugar to bring out the natural flavour of the fruit. Rose apples can be eaten fresh, or they can be cooked down to make jellies and jams, candied to make a sweet, flowery dessert, or used to flavour custards and puddings. The fruits have a mild taste that is similar to rosewater, and they are sometimes used to flavour drinks like cocktails, lemonade, and water. Rose apples can be used for more than just making desserts. They can be lightly stir-fried into dishes with rice or stuffed with meat and baked in sauces to add flavour. Rose apples go well with cinnamon, palm sugar, and fruits like mango, papaya, guava, and melon. They also go well with tomatoes, tamarind, garlic, chile peppers, fish and chicken. For the best quality and taste, whole Rose apples should be eaten right away. The fruits are easy to damage and will only last in the fridge for 2 to 4 days.

Health benefits of rose water: 

Aids in digestion: Rose apple is full of dietary fibre, which helps digestion by preventing constipation and bloating. It keeps the gut healthy and keeps serious diseases away. Rose apple seeds can also be used to treat diarrhoea. Rose apples have dietary fibres that help prevent obesity and keep a healthy weight.

Manage diabetes: Diabetes can be treated very well with jambosine, an organic compound that can be found in rose apples. It is an alkaloid that controls how starch is turned into sugar. This lowers the amount of sugar in the body and helps people with diabetes who have less pancreatic activity. Rose apple also has a low glycemic index, which helps lower blood sugar and makes it good for diabetics.

Cleanse liver and kidney: Rose apples can clean out your liver and kidneys because they make you pee. Its decoction and juice can help get rid of toxins in the liver and kidneys. It gets rid of the harmful substances in the body, keeping the body healthy as a whole and making organs work better.

Heart healthy: Rose apples are full of nutrients that help keep your heart healthy. It is good for your heart because it is full of healthy nutrients and has a lot of fibre. Cholesterol levels are controlled by antioxidants and high potassium levels. This lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other life-threatening heart and blood vessel diseases (CVDs). It stops cholesterol from building up on the walls of the arteries, which protects against atherosclerosis, which is the main cause of heart disease and stroke.

Protects against cancer: Researchers have found that the vitamin content of rose apple makes it a good candidate for protecting against different cancers. Tumours and cancer cells can't grow when you have enough vitamin A and vitamin C. So, eating rose apples every day is a good way to cut the risk of getting cancer.

Boosts immunity: Rose apple is a good way to boost your immune system because it has a lot of vitamins and minerals in it. Vitamin C protects against infections caused by microbes, and vitamin A makes the body's immune system work better. Other important nutrients, such as iron and calcium, keep the body strong and healthy and protect it from getting sick.

Healthy skin: Because vitamin C is an antioxidant, it protects cells and tissues from oxidative damage. This keeps cells and tissues healthy. Rose apples also keep your skin healthy and beautiful by preventing bacterial and fungal infections. It keeps your gums and teeth healthy and keeps your eyes healthy.