Mù lián

Elephant apple is the fruit of an evergreen tree that’s native from India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, and then to Vietnam and southwestern China. The fruit is globose in shape and it’s formed as an aggregate of 15 carpels that overlap.

Each carpel contains five seeds that are embedded in a gelatinous pulp. When fully ripe, the fruits have a sour to sweet-sour flavor. The pulp is often used to make beverages, vinegar, and jams. When not fully ripe, the fruits are pickled or used in soups and curries, while the flower’s petals are often used as garnishes for fruit and vegetable salads.