Jambu Epal... New Variety? Old Gimmick !

The ‘new variety’ of Jambu had been in the market for few years, but still many are not aware of its existence.

Visitors to Cameron Highlands will surely encounter this fruit at either Kea Farm or Brinchang night market.  Priced for a hefty RM10 for 3, it come in two attractive colours: Fuji-apple-red and granny-smith-green, vacuum packed in clear PE bags. 

Consumers Association of Penang ( CAP ) had in 2007 warned the public about this ‘new variety’ of guava.   According to CAP, the guava was actually normal jambu batu berbiji ( Psidium guajava ), peeled, soaked in coloured sugar solution.  The coloring agent used are E133 Brilliant Blue and E102 Tartrazine for the light green colour; and E122 Carmoisine for Fuji-apple red respectively.

The product is correctly labeled as ‘Jambu Jeruk’.  However, information on coloring agent is Ec177, which is non-existence.  Also, E509 Calcium Chloride is used.

  

WEST-meet-EAST 石榴

石榴，别名安石榴、海榴、pomegranate (英文)、delima (马来)。学名 Punica granatum，属石榴科 ( Punicaceae )，于温带属落叶灌木，在热带成常绿树。果皮朱红色，亦有黄色和白色，球形。肉质半透明，多汁。含多维生素C，B族维生素。

原产中东。相传是西汉 (约100BC)  时由张骞从西域安国和石国 ( 今Uzbekistan的Buxoro和Toshkent )  引入中国，故名安石果。唐•《藝文類聚》引西晋陸機《與弟雲書》：「張騫為漢使外國十八年．得塗林，安熟榴也。」

石榴全身是宝，果皮、根、花皆可入药。性温，味甘、涩、酸， 无毒。具有生津止渴，杀虫、收敛、涩肠、止痢等功效。

番石榴，别名鸡屎果、鸡屎拔、翻桃子、番桃、番稔、番鬼子、林拔、拔子、椰拔、木八子、芭乐、guava (英文), jambu batu (马来) 等。学名Psidium guajava，属桃金娘科 ( Myrtaceae )，是常绿小乔木。果皮翠绿至朱红，圆或椭圆形，多耔。果肉未熟脆口，乳白色。熟果肉质细嫩，色乳白至朱红。含多维生素C，钾，铁，胡萝卜素。

原产美洲热带。16世纪传播至世界各热带及亚热带地区。约17世纪传入中国。

番石榴性温，味甘、涩、酸， 无毒。 具有止泻，止血，止痒的功效。多食便秘 ，不宜多吃。