Chirputtam (Physalis) have been on sale at some supermarkets in Portugal for several years now. When they first appeared on commercial scale, the "Jumbo" network of hypermarkets issued a leaflet and also recipe cards on the tropical fruits available in the Portuguese market. About PHYSALIS the leaflet says:
Origin: Peru Energ. Val.: 40 Kcal/100 gr Rich in: Vitamins A, C and B12 - Fruits with a very decorative aspect, both with and without husk. They adorn fruit salads and can accompany dishes of bird meat. The recipe card says: Characteristics: The fruit has 2 to 3 cm diametre and is found in the interior of an orange-yellow calyx, usually dry. When the berries are ripe they are yellow or of reddish-orange colour. The husk is smooth and the small and soft seeds are edible. The ripe berries are sweet and taste like pineapple. Countries of origin: South Africa, Israel, Colombia, Equador, Portugal/Madeira and France (a) On sale: Throughout the year (a) Manner of consumption: Physalis is eaten by opening the calyx and removing the berry with a knife. It can be used in fruit salads and jams. By opening the calyx with care and keeping the berry in its place, one obtains a very original decorative element to adorn any dish. Conservation: Physalis can be conserved at room temperature for a few days. Energetic value: 100 gr of berries equal 40 kcal. Vitamin contents: Vitamin A: 3000 U.I.; Vitamin C: 30 mg; Vitamin B12: 8 mg. (a) The origin of the physalis on sale at a given time depends on which country it is produced in at that particular time of the year. So, the "origin" shown on the supermarkets' tags means that that particular lot, at that specific time of the year, was either a national produce (Portugal/Madeira) or imported from the country indicated on the tag. The lack of reference to Goa or India as one of the countries of origin must mean that no exports are known to be made from there. Livia & Jorge de Abreu Noronha ----- Original Message ----- From: Teotonio R. de Souza To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 11:07 AM Subject: [Goanet]Chirputtam (Fizalis?) Chirputtam (not to be confounded with "xirputtam") grow wild in Goan coutryside. Recently I found a red one (hardly seen in Goa, where they are yellowish when ripe) of them included with its husk in my fruit salad in a posh restaurant at Lisbon's Cultural Centre of Belem. Would anyone on Goanet provide more information of botanical or medicinal, etc. on this goan flora specimen? Where did it come from. Apparently it is much used in former USSR regions, and the Germans seem to be using it for jam. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
