Raisin bush fruit

What it is

Grewia tenax is also called white crossberry and is related to India’s phalsa. Its fruit has one to four rounded lobes. In Kachchh, Gujarat, individual fruits measure roughly 0.5–0.7 cm (0.2–0.3 in) long.

Sudan’s orange berries are sweet and eaten fresh or dried. In western Rajasthan, the orange fruit is acrid, and usually eaten raw. Orange-red colour marks maturity, with fruit picked as the green colour gives way to orange or dark red.

Where it comes from

Raisin bush grows in African and Asian drylands. It reaches the driest savannas at desert margins, and in the Sahel it occupies rocky hills and slopes. In Sudan, it grows in sandy country and near mountains, including the northern and central savannas. In India, it grows in western Rajasthan and Kachchh in Gujarat.

How it's eaten where it grows

For a Sudanese guddaim drink, the fruit soaks in water for three to four hours before being pressed by hand, strained and sweetened. In Kordofan, an overnight soak is another preparation, and the pulp is also mixed with baobab or tamarind juice.

Nesha combines guddaim pulp with millet flour, boiled into a thin porridge with custard added. A light porridge made by thickening guddaim drink with flour or custard is served during Ramadan.

How it's grown

The plant is a shrub with several stems, growing about 2 m (6.5 ft) tall. Its smooth grey bark is strongly fibrous. It tolerates drought and grows in sandy or rocky soils. Browsing animals can batter the shrub, while bees visit its white flowers for pollen and nectar.

When and where you'll find it

In Sudan, guddaim reaches big town markets: fruit was bought at one in Wad Medani, Gezira State, in July 2013. It is eaten fresh, and drying lets people keep it longer; in Kordofan, fruit is dried for later. Soaked, pressed and sweetened, it also becomes a drink.