15 Berry types in India You Must Include in Your Kitchen

Berries are superfood and a significant part of Indian kitchens. Many berry types in India are used as home remedies. They are small, delicious, pulpy fruits with no seeds, usually round or oblong. They offer a wide range of flavours, from sweet to sour and tangy. Although the botanical definition of berries includes a wide range of fruits and vegetables that we don’t usually refer to as berries, such as tomatoes, brinjals, cucumbers, and similar vegetables. The following article includes a list of berry types in India.

1- Jamun

Jamuns are grown throughout the year in tropical and subtropical regions and are native to the Indian subcontinent. The purple-colored, oblong fruit contains sweet, juicy flesh and is enjoyed by all, especially children, who enjoy the purple colour it leaves in their mouths after eating. 

Scientific Name- Syzygium Cumini

2- Shahtoot

These multi-colored berries are native to Asia’s tropical areas and are rare berry types in India. Shahtoots have a pleasant flavour and are used as a natural cooling in the summer. These fruits have numerous health benefits, including aiding digestion, fighting coughs and colds, and enhancing vision.

Scientific Name- Morus Alba

3- Kosam 

These berries are alluring yellow fruits that are native to southeast Asia and to the Indian subcontinent and offer. Kosams are wild berry types in India, found primarily in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh’s jungles. Its oil, also known as Kusum in Hindi, has a wide range of applications in traditional medicine.

Scientific Name- Schleichera Oleosa

4- Amla 

Amla is one of India’s most nutritious fruits and one of the most significant berry types in India and is considered a useful remedy. The fruit is utilised not only in cooking but also in preparing achar, chutney, murabba, and jams, among other things. Apart from that, it is high in nutrients and plays a vital role in Indian 

Medicine.

Scientific Name- Phyllanthus Emblica

5- Chironji

The crunchy, almond-flavoured seeds are widely used in Indian sweets. Their cultivation may be found all across the country. The Chironji seeds are found inside the tasty black tiny berries produced by the tree.

Scientific Name- Buchanania Lanzan

6- Goji 

Goji berries are available in both fresh and dried versions. They have a faint sour flavour, similar to raisins. These berries are high in Vitamin C, making them beneficial to the eyes and skin. They can also help you lose weight.

Scientific Name- Lycium Barbarum

7- Phalsa

Phalsa is distinguished from the others on the list of berry types in India by its sweet and sour flavour. They are abundantly grown in the country’s warmer regions. Phalsa is commonly eaten as a fresh meal and used in beverages and syrups, among other things, because of its cooling characteristics.

Scientific Name- Grewia Asiatica

8- Lasoda 

Lasoda is also one of India’s most prevalent berry varieties, found in places such as Rajasthan. It’s a nutrient-dense ayurvedic fruit with numerous medical applications. The fruit can be used to cure a variety of ailments, including coughs and colds, skin problems, diarrhoea, fever, and wounds.

Scientific Name- Cordia Dichotoma

9- Karonda 

Karondas are small berry types in India with a tangy-sweet flavour and a dark red appearance. As the fruit matures, its flavour becomes sweeter. Karonda is a plant that grows primarily in India’s hilly regions and is used to make achar, chutney, and jams.

Scientific Name- Carissa Carandas

10 – Zara Berry 

These berries are purple-black in colour and have green seeds. They grow Zara Berry crops in and around Goa. Zara Berries, too, have numerous health benefits and aid in the management of diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, and other conditions.

Scientific Name- Hypnale Zara

11- Harfarauri 

These berry types in India can be found throughout Asia’s tropical and subtropical regions. The tree contains little yellow berries, which add to its decorative value. It also has medical applications in the treatment of digestive diseases such as piles, diarrhoea, and urinary concretions.

Scientific Name- Phyllanthus Acidus

12- Kokum

During the summer, the tree produces many fruits, which mature into purple-colored berries. This tree has a large canopy that serves as an ornamental in gardens as well as having different industrial and culinary purposes.

Scientific Name- Garcinia Indica

13- Ber 

Children and adults alike like the fruit, which is one of the most beloved berry types in India. These fruits come in both fresh and dried forms and are known for their tangy, sweet flavour. They’re a great low-calorie snack with a variety of health benefits.

Scientific Name- Ziziphus Mauritiana

14- Angoor 

Angoor, also known as grapes, is one of India’s most popular fruits and needs no introduction. Grapes are used to make jellies, jams, juices, wines, and other products in addition to being one of the popular berry types in India that everyone enjoys.

Scientific Name- Vitis Vinifera

15- Rasbhari 

This low-fat fruit has high water content, making it an excellent diet meal. The fruit, which is high in many other nutrients and enhances immunity, has a long list of health benefits. Weight watchers will like the fruit’s high sugar content. 

Scientific Name- Physalis Peruviana

Health Benefits of Berries 

Despite being juicy and mouthwatering, most of the berry types in India are the healthiest food that provides numerous health benefits. Some of them are mentioned below. 

Rich Source of Antioxidants 

Antioxidants such anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and resveratrol are abundant in berries. These plant mixes may minimise disease risk in addition to protecting your cells. Berries’ antioxidant qualities may help to protect against pollution damage. The antioxidant content in blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries is higher than that of any other fruit.

Improves Blood Sugar & Insulin Response 

Berries have been proven to help with blood sugar and insulin levels. They may protect your cells against high blood sugar levels, boost insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood sugar and insulin response to high-carb meals, according to test-tube and human research. 

High in Fibre 

The Majority of the berry types in India are high in fibre, especially soluble fibre. According to research, consuming soluble fibre slows the movement of food through your digestive tract, resulting in reduced appetite and enhanced feelings of fullness. This may help you lose weight by lowering your calorie consumption.

Nutrients Rich

Most Berry types in India are a low-calorie, high-nutrient food, which contains various vitamins and minerals in addition to being high in antioxidants. Berries, particularly strawberries contain an adequate amount of vitamin C. With the exception of vitamin C, the vitamin and mineral profile of all berries is quite similar.

Bottom Line 

Some of the berry types in India are used to prepare pickle and sweet fruit preserves, which all of us have found and tasted in our mother’s kitchen. And we have already discussed the health benefits of berries. So, if you haven’t included them yet in your kitchen, it is time to do so.