This resembles a curved string and each string has 5-12 tiny fruits in them. The white flesh is edible and there is a small black seed inside. The flesh is either sweet or astringent ( thuvappu). When we were kids, we used to collect all these seeds and used it for playing odd or even. The player keeps some seeds inside the palm and asks the other players whether the number is odd or even. If any player guesses correctly, they take all the seeds. We go on accumulating the seeds until any one has the maximum number and is announced as the winner. This kodikkai surely brings back lots of childhood memories. We also used to play another game with the seeds. One who peels the seed’s black skin with out damaging the next slightly greenish skin will get guests at home. As it will be the time of summer vacations, we would go on peeling the seeds ( which is very tough) to get many guest at home. So if you ever see this in your local store try it out. Do not miss it…
Kodikkai Pazham
How many of you have come across this fruit. It is called as kodikkai / kodikka pazham and is usually available during summer. We get it in my home town Then and at Madurai. I think it is famous in South Tamil Nadu. Apart from these areas it is hard to get it elsewhere. My mom who stays in Coimbatore buys this whenever she visits Madurai and takes back to Coimbatore. I have seen a tree of kodikkai in my uncle’s house long back. It was so tasty and he used to get it for us during the season. Now whenever I go to Theni, we stop at a place where we can get delicious kodikkai. It is a road side vendor and they have the fresh kodikkai pazham. I searched a lot for the English name of this but couldn’t find it. If anyone knows about it please share with me in the comment and I will update the post.
Hi Gayathri,
It is called guamuchil fruit and I am also from madurai.
Thanks.
Thank you Deena. Nice to know that you too are from Madurai..
Thanks.