A Jamun Article that I should have written centuries ago. Vegetarian Jamun:Naval Pudding with Blood-Red Sauce.

                   

                          

                        Good Lord! I can never forgive myself for NOT writing 
                                            this article earlier! 

The jamun tree is the king of trees, in my opinion. Hey, opinions are personal-based.  And the glory of Jamun Fruits needs a thousand hours to chant!

Jamun fruits can  ONLY GIVE HAPPINESS. NOTHING ELSE in its making. (For many, happiness is a piece of cake with a cherry on top 🍰🤭) 

Hindus swear that the tree has divine properties. Rama was believed to have eaten the jamun during his 14 years of exile from Ayutthaya. Some people even associate his skin colour to that of the jamun fruit skin! People, especially the Hindus relate jamun to the God of the Clouds, linking the God with  the colour of the monsoon clouds.
Besides religious associations, the birds live on jamun fruits. Little birds. Big birds. Average birds. Squirrels. Even bats come at night to feast on the fruits in my jamun tree!

                                                         
                                                    The Joy of Birds in my Jamun Tree
            
                                        
                                                                                *******

                                        So, let's get back to my story on jamun fruits. 


For many of you reading this article, you may not be lucky enough to get fresh naval/jamun fruits. This is because jamun is a very delicate fruit. It bruises  easily. It isn't a store-bought fruit  either! It doesn't ripen after plucking and it doesn't last long. 
Reasons enough to long for fresh jamuns! If you are a traveler, go (🚴🏻‍♀️) pack up and visit India to which country the tree is native to. Or to Bangladesh, Nepal,  Pakistan, Sri Lanka,.... Also checkout Southeast Asia in the world map! Speaking of SEA, the Portuguese colonists introduced the jamun tree to Southeast Asia, hence the name Portugist Plum for jamun. 

Note: Just wondering if the portuguese egg tart has got anything to do with colonialism as well! 
                                        (🥚)

Anyway, besides these countries, jamun tree was also introduced to Florida as well. (Psst... over there 👉🏻 jamun tree is considered a pest, as they grow WILDLY & RAPIDLY up to 30-35 meters!)  

Jamun trees are also found  in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and South Africa (South Africa has some spectacularly huge jamun trees! Ah, think of the canopy shade the trees provide🌳! in the HOT African setting. Whew! I would enjoy that!

And so, coming back to the question of jamun fruits again. Nowadays, modern men has sort of er, re-discovered the benefits of jamun (way long, long, long after Rama's 14 years exile!)Thanks to a popular disease called Diabetes!🤭 Oops! Sorry! I mean er, er.... forget it!!
                                *******
Let me get back to the humble jamun fruits. Nowadays, due to 'modern and developed' life and style, many nations (or maybe almost all the nations in the world have developed superfast) 

Question🖐🏼: I wonder if anyone can explain the word  'developed' associated with a country, any country I mean. For example, if a country is called a 'developed country', does that mean they have destroyed most of the 'original forests' to make way for buildings, and modern structures? 
Just wondering: Is develop = destroy? 🙏

My conscience is bugging me incessantly. I'll stop with one more question:
'Are all developed countries destroyed countries?' 😃                                                              
                                                               ******
                                       BUT SERIOUSLY !

Let's get back to the issue of DIABETES.  What has jamun got to do with this disease? Or is diabetes a condition?

Actually, to my knowledge, diabetes is a condition where the body doesn't produce enough or respond normally to insulin. When this happens, the glucose level in the body sometimes raises to dangerous level making a person diabetic. Frequent urination, extreme thirst and loss of weight can also happen to a diabetic. 

                                            
                                               
                                                 LOOK AT THESE DARLINGS: 
                                  READY-TO EAT SUPER-FRESH JAMUN FRUITS!           

          And what has diabetes got to do with Jamun Fruits,you may ask AGAIN?👏🏼

Modern medicine says diabetes is a condition and therefore can be controlled with medication, diet and exercise. Being human, many of us tend to believe in miracles without the performances of exercise and healthy life-styles! (My apologies!😎) And hence, the association of diabetes to jamun.

                                                                ********** 

Ayurvedic practitioners, believe that most parts of the jamun tree can be used for medicinal purposes. Jamun seed are dried, powered and used to control blood sugar (says the ayurvedic practitioners🙏) The  leaves and inner barks are boiled and taken to reduce weight. The fruits are used to treat respiratory, digestive issues and even constipation in the Ayurvedic way of life and style. Jamun is also used to treat anemia, the ayurvedic way.
                                                                      
                                                                          *
Scientifically speaking, jamun has Vitamin C and A to help increase immunity, reduce inflammation and aid organ health and function. In addition, jamun has fiber, potassium, calcium, iron,  phosphorus, magnesium and B6 vitamin.
                                                                                
                                                                            *
Aesthetically,  the jamun tree provides the  best canopy on a sweltering hot day. Just imagine, having a cold lemonade under a jamun tree on a hot afternoon! 

                (BUT again, I know, not many of you are lucky for such extravaganza!)

Of the many who own such jamun trees, a big numger, think of chopping down the beauty for cheap furniture making and fire-wood purposes! 
                                                             
                                                                   HOW SAD!🤯  
                                                           
                                                                    *******

Anyway, thanks to DIABETES, the jamun trees are better appreciated now.🤭
Many farmers are now cultivating jamun trees for their fruits and leaves. Gone are the days when jamun fruits are sold as cheap street fruits. I mean, gone are the days when jamun are considered cheap and no-one-cares for kind of fruits! Today, EVEN jamun seeds are dried, powdered and sold for exuberant prices over the net as a 'blood sugar reducing' choice. 

                                                            ********

                Hey this article is also for the NON-DIABETIC readers!!!

I KNOW OF YOUTUBE CHANNELS WHERE GUYS GO FORAGING FOR WILD JAMUN. Just google and see! 

Ah, the joy of plucking the black/maroon juicy jamun.... and sucking the juicy flesh off the seed. The ultimate joy is in spitting out  the seed and popping in the next jamun into my mouth. I LOVE JAMUN!
And because of the love of jamun I am sharing some of my secrets with you 🦇!
Of course, the recipe  in the video above is my best: Vegetarian Jamun: Naval (aka Jamun) Pudding with Blood-red Sauce.You will never waste Jamun Fruits Anymore.

Make and eat the naval pudding chilled and you will remember me and my channel (Nature2Health2Insight) for the rest of your happy life!👍🏼

Guys, also watch this video and then make jamun popsicles. Enjoy a popsicle or 2  or 3 under a jamun tree if you grow one!

                                                        https://youtu.be/R-rGSPaSqbY
                                        


                            You will never, ever ignore the jamun after watching the videos.

             
 

                           
                     
                          More of my jamun harvest. Mmm... I understand your desire to pop a                                                                         few into your mouth. 
                         But honestly, I only got what the birds, bats and 
                                                squirrels missed. 





                               Jamun 'Bloody Mary' anyone?
                                             Okay, okay. 
                                This is just Pure Jamun Sorbet with a dash of lemon!
ENJOY !!!

CHEERIO FOR NOW😍

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