1 Bael fruit tree woodapple - Aegle marmelos

Descrição

Aegle marmelos, commonly known as bael, also Bengal quince, golden apple, Japanese bitter orange, stone apple or wood apple, is a rare species of tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is present in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal as a naturalized species.

Bael fruit

There is also another species called wood apple, the Limonia acidissima. Wood apple and bael Fruit both come from the same plant family, Rutaceae.

In different parts of Southeast Asia, the two fruits differently known as wood apple, bale fruit, bell, and elephant apple. However, both have different textures, fragrances, and flavors.

Bael fruits are spherical and have rough baseball dimensions. Fruits start with gray-green color and turn pale yellow. When split, the fruit has a pale orange pulp separated by a thick, dark orange wall.

Some people can’t stand the smell of fruit.

Rich in vitamin C, the fruits can be eaten either fresh from trees or after being dried and produced into candy, toffee, pulp powder or nectar. If fresh, the juice is strained and sweetened to make a drink similar to lemonade.

It can be made into sharbat, also called as Bela pana, a beverage. Bela Pana made in Odisha has fresh cheese, milk, water, fruit pulp, sugar, crushed black pepper, and ice.

Bæl pana, a drink made of the pulp with water, sugar, and citron juice, is mixed, left to stand a few hours, strained, and put on ice.

If the fruit is to be dried, it is usually sliced and sun-dried. The hard leathery slices are then immersed in water. The leaves and small shoots are eaten as salad greens.

Bael fruits are of dietary use and the fruit pulp is used to prepare delicacies like murabba, puddings and juices.

Other uses

The leaves, bark, roots, fruits, and seeds are used for constipation, diarrhea, diabetes, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Bael is considered one of the sacred trees of Hindus. Scriptures reveres this plant as the residence of goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity and are considered an incarnation of goddess Sati

Bael trees can be usually seen near the Hindu temples and their home gardens.It is believed that Hindu deity Lord Shiva is fond of bael trees and its leaves and fruit still play a main role in his worship.

In the traditional practice of the Hindu and Buddhist religions by people of the Newar culture of Nepal, the bael tree is part of a fertility ritual for girls known as the Bel Bibaaha.

Girls are “married” to the bael fruit; as long as the fruit is kept safe and never cracks, the girl can never become widowed, even if her human husband dies.

This is a ritual that guarantees the high status of widows in the Newar community compared to other women in Nepal.

How to take care of a bael tree

Como o árvore de folha de caril, the bael tree originates from a warm climate, and is not hardy in almost all parts of Europe. If you want to keep it the whole year round, it should serve as a house tree indoors when temperatures reach freezing point at night.

Apenas as árvores mais maduras podem suportar alguns graus abaixo de zero graus Celsius.

A árvore deve receber muita luz solar. Logo que o inverno termine e que não haja mais geada durante a noite, a árvore pode ser colocada no exterior, num local ensolarado.

This tree does very well in dry conditions and it even likes it, so it will not really need the use of a humidity tray when it’s inside the house in the winter.

Propagação

The bael tree can be propagated through its seeds, veneer grafting, shield budding, and air layering.

Expedição

To ensure that it’s delivered in perfect condition, your bael tree will be shipped in custom plant mail-order cardboard packaging.

Perguntas e respostas

1. Do I need to re pot the young tree when it arrives?
   Resposta: Após algumas semanas de aclimatação, pode voltar a colocá-la num vaso maior durante a estação de crescimento (maio-setembro).
2. What soil do I use for my bael tree?
   Resposta: A árvore tolera uma grande diversidade de tipos de solo. Pode utilizar qualquer mistura de boa qualidade para vasos.
3. É recomendado o uso de fertilizantes?
   Resposta: não precisam de fertilizantes para se desenvolverem, mas quando estão em época de crescimento dão-se melhor se forem fertilizadas. Se optar por utilizar um fertilizante, recomendamos que utilize um fertilizante líquido.
4. Do I need to prune my bael tree?
   Se a mantiver num vaso dentro de casa, sim, terá de a podar para a manter num tamanho manejável. Poda apenas na época de crescimento.