Rose Apple

Rose apples, botanically classified as Syzygium Jambos, are small, tropical fruits belonging to the Myrtaceae or myrtle family. It is used widely in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. In India, people usually call it Champakka. The little fruits are also referred to as Malabar plums and Plum roses. Despite its name, Rose apples are neither roses nor apples. They got their name from a combination of their slight rose flavor and crisp, apple-like texture.

Rose apples are petite, with a diameter ranging from 2 to 5 centimeters, a round to oval form, a point on the stemless end, and a green calyx on top. With maturity, the skin turns from green to a bright yellow and is smooth, waxy, thin, and taut. The flesh is white to pale yellow on the inside, crisp, spongy, and semi-dry, and it has a light floral odor. The flesh also protects a hollow chamber that contains one to four tough, brown seeds. When the seeds are ripe, they separate from the cavity and rattle when the fruit is shaken. Rose apples are delicate and crunchy with a flavor that begins sweet and fruity and ends with rose floral undertones.