KOKUM

Botanical name : Garcinia indica 

Family : Clusiaceae

It is found in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats from southwards. It is also cultivated in the southern districts of Mharastra and is reported to do well on the lower slope of Nilgiris. Fruits are edible with agreeable flavour and a sweetish acid taste. Kokum contains 10% malic acid and a little tartaric or citric acid.

The fat obtained from seeds known in commerce as “Kokum butter” is edible and also used in soap and candle manufacture. It is also used in ointment and other pharmaceutical preparations. 

Kokum butter is rich in combined stearic and oleic acids. It contains about 75% of mono-oleodisaturated glycerides and possesses a fairly low melting point and considerable brittleness. It is also considered to be nutritive, demulcent, astringent and emollient.