Table Indienne
Discover our kokum (amsul), dried fruit rind of Garcinia indica, harvested in the Konkan region, between Goa and Maharashtra. Tangy, fruity, with a characteristic purple hue to flavour your sol kadhi, fish curries and dals.
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Kokum, or amsul, is the dried rind of the Garcinia indica fruit, a tree native to the coastal Konkan region, between Goa and Maharashtra. Sun-dried until it takes on a characteristic deep purple hue, this rind has been used for centuries as a natural souring agent in coastal Indian cuisine. An alternative to tamarind, it brings a fruitier, less sweet acidity.
Whole, unprocessed kokum rind keeps all its aromatic complexity and its natural purple hue, which delicately colours dishes. Simply soak it in warm water for a few minutes to extract the tangy juice, or add it directly to slow-cooked preparations so it infuses during cooking.
Our kokum comes from the Konkan region, between Goa and Maharashtra, where it is harvested and dried using traditional methods. Our growers grow without pesticides, so we can guarantee you a natural, authentic product.
To preserve all its aromas, store your kokum in a dry place, away from light and humidity, in its airtight packaging.
Rich in antioxidants (garcinol)
Supports digestion
Anti-inflammatory properties
Traditionally used to cool the body
Supports gut health
Traditionally supports weight management
Source of vitamin C
Traditionally soothing for the skin
| Directly selected smallholder producers | No |
| Pesticides free | Yes |
| Vegetarian | Yes |
| Origin | Konkan (Goa / Maharashtra), India |
| Quality | Premium |
| Type | Dried rind |
| Taste profile | Tangy, fruity, with a characteristic purple hue. An alternative to tamarind, fruitier and less sweet. |
In Sanskrit, kokum is called vrikshamla (वृक्षाम्ल), literally "the tree's sour," from vriksha (tree) and amla (sour, acid). The name points to its long standing in Ayurvedic medicine, where the fruit is traditionally used to balance the pitta dosha, aid digestion and cool the body during the monsoon heat.
The genus Garcinia was named by Linnaeus in honour of Laurent Garcin (1683-1752), a French-Swiss naturalist and surgeon for the Dutch East India Company, and a Fellow of the Royal Society, who studied Indian flora in the 18th century. Kokum's signature antioxidant compound, garcinol, in turn takes its name from this botanical genus.
On the Konkan coast and in Goa, the fruit goes by dozens of local names: amsul or amsool in Bombay and Goa, bhirand in Konkani, ratamba or kokambi in Marathi. This variety is a sign of an old rural and tribal use, long predating any commercial trade. Konkan communities have harvested, dried and traded kokum for generations, first and foremost as a souring agent and a natural preservative for fish preparations, in a region where humid heat makes food preservation a real challenge.
This deep rural heritage was officially recognised in 2016, when kokum from the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts (Maharashtra) received protected Geographical Indication (GI) status as the "Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum," enshrining the local drying and salting know-how that sets this terroir apart.
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kokum / Kokum rind |
| Hindi | Kokum (कोकम) |
| Sanskrit | Vrikshamla (वृक्षाम्ल) |
| Marathi | Kokum / Ratamba / Kokambi (कोकम / रातंबा) |
| Konkani | Bhirand (भिरींड) |
| Malayalam | Kokkam (കൊക്കം) |
| Kannada | Punarpuli / Murgina (ಪುನರ್ಪುಳಿ) |
| French | Kokum |
| Botanical Latin | Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy |
The name amsul (or amsool), very common in Bombay and Goa, is really a trade and culinary name rather than a strict regional vernacular term; it is usually the one found on labels in Indian markets.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy |
| Botanical family | Clusiaceae (the mangosteen family) |
| Local names | Amsul / Amsool (Bombay, Goa) / Vrikshamla (Sanskrit) / Bhirand (Konkani) |
| Part used | Dried pericarp (rind) of the fruit |
| Plant type | Dioecious evergreen tree, up to 15-18 m tall, pyramidal habit at maturity |
| Fresh fruit | Orange-sized spherical berry with purplish-red flesh, 5 to 8 seeds |
| Harvest | April to May (dry season, before the monsoon); ripe fruit picked by hand |
| Drying | Rind hand-separated, steeped in its own juice (sometimes salted), then sun-dried for 3 to 7 days until deep purple-black |
Garcinia indica grows wild or semi-cultivated in the humid tropical forests of the Konkan coast and the Western Ghats, from sea level up to roughly 800 metres. The tree favours well-drained soil and abundant monsoon rainfall followed by a marked dry season, which favours fruiting.
Since 2016, the name "Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum" has been protected by a Geographical Indication issued by India's GI registry, reserving the name for kokum grown and processed in these two Konkan districts using traditional drying methods.
| Criterion | Kokum (G. indica) | Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) |
|---|---|---|
| Part used | Dried fruit rind | Pod pulp |
| Home region | Konkan coast, Goa (humid coastal climate) | Across India, especially the South |
| Taste | Fruity, mildly sour, not sweet | Sweet-and-sour, more pronounced |
| Best with | Coconut-based and fish dishes | Sambars, chutneys, slow-cooked dishes |
See also our tamarind guide to compare the two most iconic souring agents of Indian cuisine.
Kokum brings a fruity, gently sour flavour, noticeably milder than tamarind and without its sticky-sweet edge. Sun-drying gives it a light astringency reminiscent of tart red fruit rather than citrus.
| Aromatic note | Description |
|---|---|
| Top note | Immediate fruity sourness, almost salty if the rind was steeped in salt |
| Heart note | Tart red fruit, lightly astringent |
| Base note | Woody, tannic edge |
| On the palate | "Clean" sourness, refreshing, without tamarind's stickiness |
Unlike tamarind, whose sourness comes with a marked sweet undertone, kokum stays dry and crisp on the palate. This trait explains its natural pairing with coconut milk: its light astringency balances coconut's richness and sweetness without ever overpowering it.
Soaked for 15 to 20 minutes in hot water, kokum releases a gentle sourness and a deep purple juice, ideal for drinks and clear curries. Added directly, in pieces, to a simmering dish, it infuses more gradually and leaves a subtler, background sourness.
On the Konkan coast and in Goa, kokum appears in any dish that calls for fresh sourness rather than heat. It is used in two ways: soaked to extract its juice, or added in pieces straight into the cooking pot.
In any recipe calling for tamarind, kokum can often replace it in roughly equal amounts when a lighter, less sweet sourness is preferred. This swap is particularly recommended in coconut-based dishes, where kokum has historically been the preferred choice.
Cold-pressed from the fruit's seeds, kokum butter is a fat used in cosmetics for its emollient properties: a traditional skin-care use that long predates its adoption by Western cosmetics.
Kokum holds an old place in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is traditionally used to balance the pitta dosha, cool the body and aid digestion. Modern research has mainly focused on two characteristic compounds in its rind: hydroxycitric acid (HCA) and garcinol.
Eaten as food, in ordinary amounts, kokum carries no particular risk. Concentrated HCA supplements, however, often sold under the name Garcinia cambogia (a closely related species), have raised caution in people on existing medication, particularly for diabetes or certain liver conditions: check with your doctor before taking any kokum- or Garcinia-based supplement, as opposed to ordinary culinary use.
Kokum is the dried rind of the fruit of Garcinia indica, a tree from the Konkan and Goa. Like tamarind, it brings sourness to a dish, but its flavour is milder, fruitier and tangier, without tamarind's sweet edge. It is especially prized in coconut-based dishes.
Two methods: soak it for 15 to 20 minutes in hot water to extract its juice (used in drinks and clear curries), or add it directly, in pieces, to a dish at the start of cooking, much like tamarind.
Yes, in most recipes that call for sourness, in roughly equal amounts. It is particularly favoured in coconut-based dishes, where kokum is historically preferred. The result will be less sweet and lighter than tamarind.
Kokum rind is rich in hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a compound studied for a potential effect on appetite and fat metabolism, but the scientific evidence remains limited and comes mostly from preclinical studies or concentrated supplements, unrelated to the amounts used in cooking. It is not a miracle weight-loss product.
Salted kokum has been steeped in its own juice with added salt before drying, so it is darker, slightly tacky, and keeps longer. Unsalted kokum is drier and more neutral; adjust your dish's seasoning depending on which version you use.
In an airtight jar, away from light and moisture, for up to 12 to 18 months. The salted version keeps even longer thanks to salt's natural preserving effect.
In Sanskrit, kokum is called vrikshamla (वृक्षाम्ल), literally "the tree's sour," from vriksha (tree) and amla (sour, acid). The name points to its long standing in Ayurvedic medicine, where the fruit is traditionally used to balance the pitta dosha, aid digestion and cool the body during the monsoon heat.
The genus Garcinia was named by Linnaeus in honour of Laurent Garcin (1683-1752), a French-Swiss naturalist and surgeon for the Dutch East India Company, and a Fellow of the Royal Society, who studied Indian flora in the 18th century. Kokum's signature antioxidant compound, garcinol, in turn takes its name from this botanical genus.
On the Konkan coast and in Goa, the fruit goes by dozens of local names: amsul or amsool in Bombay and Goa, bhirand in Konkani, ratamba or kokambi in Marathi. This variety is a sign of an old rural and tribal use, long predating any commercial trade. Konkan communities have harvested, dried and traded kokum for generations, first and foremost as a souring agent and a natural preservative for fish preparations, in a region where humid heat makes food preservation a real challenge.
This deep rural heritage was officially recognised in 2016, when kokum from the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts (Maharashtra) received protected Geographical Indication (GI) status as the "Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum," enshrining the local drying and salting know-how that sets this terroir apart.
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kokum / Kokum rind |
| Hindi | Kokum (कोकम) |
| Sanskrit | Vrikshamla (वृक्षाम्ल) |
| Marathi | Kokum / Ratamba / Kokambi (कोकम / रातंबा) |
| Konkani | Bhirand (भिरींड) |
| Malayalam | Kokkam (കൊക്കം) |
| Kannada | Punarpuli / Murgina (ಪುನರ್ಪುಳಿ) |
| French | Kokum |
| Botanical Latin | Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy |
The name amsul (or amsool), very common in Bombay and Goa, is really a trade and culinary name rather than a strict regional vernacular term; it is usually the one found on labels in Indian markets.
| Characteristic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Latin name | Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy |
| Botanical family | Clusiaceae (the mangosteen family) |
| Local names | Amsul / Amsool (Bombay, Goa) / Vrikshamla (Sanskrit) / Bhirand (Konkani) |
| Part used | Dried pericarp (rind) of the fruit |
| Plant type | Dioecious evergreen tree, up to 15-18 m tall, pyramidal habit at maturity |
| Fresh fruit | Orange-sized spherical berry with purplish-red flesh, 5 to 8 seeds |
| Harvest | April to May (dry season, before the monsoon); ripe fruit picked by hand |
| Drying | Rind hand-separated, steeped in its own juice (sometimes salted), then sun-dried for 3 to 7 days until deep purple-black |
Garcinia indica grows wild or semi-cultivated in the humid tropical forests of the Konkan coast and the Western Ghats, from sea level up to roughly 800 metres. The tree favours well-drained soil and abundant monsoon rainfall followed by a marked dry season, which favours fruiting.
Since 2016, the name "Sindhudurg & Ratnagiri Kokum" has been protected by a Geographical Indication issued by India's GI registry, reserving the name for kokum grown and processed in these two Konkan districts using traditional drying methods.
| Criterion | Kokum (G. indica) | Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) |
|---|---|---|
| Part used | Dried fruit rind | Pod pulp |
| Home region | Konkan coast, Goa (humid coastal climate) | Across India, especially the South |
| Taste | Fruity, mildly sour, not sweet | Sweet-and-sour, more pronounced |
| Best with | Coconut-based and fish dishes | Sambars, chutneys, slow-cooked dishes |
See also our tamarind guide to compare the two most iconic souring agents of Indian cuisine.
Kokum brings a fruity, gently sour flavour, noticeably milder than tamarind and without its sticky-sweet edge. Sun-drying gives it a light astringency reminiscent of tart red fruit rather than citrus.
| Aromatic note | Description |
|---|---|
| Top note | Immediate fruity sourness, almost salty if the rind was steeped in salt |
| Heart note | Tart red fruit, lightly astringent |
| Base note | Woody, tannic edge |
| On the palate | "Clean" sourness, refreshing, without tamarind's stickiness |
Unlike tamarind, whose sourness comes with a marked sweet undertone, kokum stays dry and crisp on the palate. This trait explains its natural pairing with coconut milk: its light astringency balances coconut's richness and sweetness without ever overpowering it.
Soaked for 15 to 20 minutes in hot water, kokum releases a gentle sourness and a deep purple juice, ideal for drinks and clear curries. Added directly, in pieces, to a simmering dish, it infuses more gradually and leaves a subtler, background sourness.
On the Konkan coast and in Goa, kokum appears in any dish that calls for fresh sourness rather than heat. It is used in two ways: soaked to extract its juice, or added in pieces straight into the cooking pot.
In any recipe calling for tamarind, kokum can often replace it in roughly equal amounts when a lighter, less sweet sourness is preferred. This swap is particularly recommended in coconut-based dishes, where kokum has historically been the preferred choice.
Cold-pressed from the fruit's seeds, kokum butter is a fat used in cosmetics for its emollient properties: a traditional skin-care use that long predates its adoption by Western cosmetics.
Kokum holds an old place in Ayurvedic medicine, where it is traditionally used to balance the pitta dosha, cool the body and aid digestion. Modern research has mainly focused on two characteristic compounds in its rind: hydroxycitric acid (HCA) and garcinol.
Eaten as food, in ordinary amounts, kokum carries no particular risk. Concentrated HCA supplements, however, often sold under the name Garcinia cambogia (a closely related species), have raised caution in people on existing medication, particularly for diabetes or certain liver conditions: check with your doctor before taking any kokum- or Garcinia-based supplement, as opposed to ordinary culinary use.
Kokum is the dried rind of the fruit of Garcinia indica, a tree from the Konkan and Goa. Like tamarind, it brings sourness to a dish, but its flavour is milder, fruitier and tangier, without tamarind's sweet edge. It is especially prized in coconut-based dishes.
Two methods: soak it for 15 to 20 minutes in hot water to extract its juice (used in drinks and clear curries), or add it directly, in pieces, to a dish at the start of cooking, much like tamarind.
Yes, in most recipes that call for sourness, in roughly equal amounts. It is particularly favoured in coconut-based dishes, where kokum is historically preferred. The result will be less sweet and lighter than tamarind.
Kokum rind is rich in hydroxycitric acid (HCA), a compound studied for a potential effect on appetite and fat metabolism, but the scientific evidence remains limited and comes mostly from preclinical studies or concentrated supplements, unrelated to the amounts used in cooking. It is not a miracle weight-loss product.
Salted kokum has been steeped in its own juice with added salt before drying, so it is darker, slightly tacky, and keeps longer. Unsalted kokum is drier and more neutral; adjust your dish's seasoning depending on which version you use.
In an airtight jar, away from light and moisture, for up to 12 to 18 months. The salted version keeps even longer thanks to salt's natural preserving effect.
Nos épices sont importées directement d'Inde et conditionnées à la demande pour garantir une fraîcheur optimale. Contrairement aux épices vendues en grande surface qui peuvent rester des mois sur les étagères, nous veillons à ce que chaque épice conserve toute sa saveur et son arôme.
Chaque épice provient de régions spécifiques en Inde réputées pour leur savoir-faire. Nous travaillons directement avec des producteurs locaux qui cultivent leurs épices de manière traditionnelle, sans pesticides ni produits chimiques.
Pour révéler tous les arômes, nous recommandons de faire légèrement griller les épices entières à sec dans une poêle avant de les moudre. Conservez-les dans un endroit sec et à l'abri de la lumière pour préserver leur fraîcheur le plus longtemps possible.
Les épices entières sont bien meilleures que les épices moulues
Consultez notre article de blog pour découvrir pourquoi les épices entières conservent mieux leurs arômes.
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