Dried Amla

Also known asDried Amalaki · Amla Powder

Name: Dried amla, also called dried Indian gooseberry or amalaki (Sanskrit) and sold as dried slices, whole dried fruit, candied pieces or powder (Phyllanthus emblica). The fresh fruit has its own page under Tropical Fruits.

Description

Amla is native to India and has been central to Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years, where it is known as amalaki and is one of the three fruits in the famous herbal blend triphala. Because the fresh fruit is very sour and astringent and spoils quickly, much of the harvest has long been dried, pickled or preserved.

Dried amla is sold as hard, dark brown segments with a sharp, sour, slightly bitter taste, and as a fine powder. In India it is also made into sweet, sticky candied amla (amla candy) and the preserve amla murabba, which are much sweeter and often loaded with sugar.

Main nutrition value

Fresh amla is famous as one of the richest fruit sources of vitamin C, though drying and storage reduce some of it, and the fruit also provides fibre and tannins.

How best to be consumed

Plain dried amla is very sour, so it is usually soaked, powdered or sweetened.

1. Stir a little amla powder into water, juice, yoghurt or smoothies, or into warm water with honey.
2. Chew a small piece of plain dried amla after meals, as some people do for its sour, astringent taste.
3. Add to chutneys, curries or herbal tonics, as in Indian home cooking.
4. Choose unsweetened dried amla over candied versions if you want to limit sugar.
5. Store in an airtight jar away from damp, since the powder cakes easily.

Overconsumption could cause…

Amla is generally well tolerated in food-sized amounts, though it is very sour.

1. Stomach upset or heartburn from the strong acidity and astringency, especially on an empty stomach.
2. Constipation or dry mouth in some people from the astringent tannins.
3. A possible lowering of blood sugar or blood-clotting effects, so people on diabetes or blood-thinning medicines should check with a doctor before using it regularly.
4. A lot of added sugar if eaten mostly as candied amla or murabba.

GroupsDried FruitsIndianDried

Made fromIndian Gooseberry / Amla

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Wikipedia — Phyllanthus emblica, used for origin, naming and traditional use: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthus_emblica Wikipedia — Dried fruit, used for general background on drying and storing fruit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dried_fruit