Images

5 reasons why falsas are a great guilt-free snack

5 reasons why falsas are a great guilt-free snack

Falsas will cure your stomach ache, fight cancer and keep you looking young!
Updated 15 May, 2020

With the sweltering heat, summer also brings with it some truly delicious fruits — and we have to say, falsas are one of our favourites!

Juice them, sprinkle them on your salad or eat them raw, this seasonal fruit can be enjoyed in so many ways.

Also read: Three ways to make the most of falsa season

What's best is that falsas are actually a really nutritious snack. And we don't just mean how it's refreshing in the summer and perfect for getting rid of a heatstroke. We mean it's pretty much a super-food.

Here's why you should obsess over falsas this summer.

1) It's great for your tummy

Falsa juice works as a digestive... with added benefits! According to the Encyclopedia of World Medicinal Plants, it will not only help regulate digestion, but also serves as a great coolant and restores hydration to the body during a stomach flu. That's a double win!

According to botanical experts, stomach pain can be treated by drinking falsa juice (but we recommend you consult a doctor to avoid allergic reactions or similar):

Add 3g roasted carom seeds (ajwain) to 25-30ml falsa juice and stir and warm a bit. Drink to relieve pain.


2) It strengthens your heart

Falsas are said to relieve inflammation, which makes it a good heart tonic.

Here's a recipe, but again this is not a substitute for doctor's advice or medicine!

Add a pinch of rock salt and black pepper to 50ml falsa juice and mix well. You can also add sugar for taste.


3) It can scare away cancer

The fruit is full of antioxidants and is used to reduce cancer risk.

This makes it a great antidote for all the potentially harmful foods we consume.

4) It'll satisfy diabetics' sweet (and sour) tooth

That's right, falsa is no guilty pleasure! It is pure joy for everyone!

According to an article published by the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, falsa is a low glycemic index food, which means it can be enjoyed by diabetics and patients with cardiovascular diseases.

5) It'll keep you young

Wanna know a secret? If a food is naturally purple it's an antioxidant loaded with anthocyanins.

This chemical helps protect collagen and restores youthful skin. It's also known for purifying the blood which means falsas help in clearing out your skin, so munch away for that healthy glow!

Comments

Amer Rao May 10, 2017 11:24pm
Amazing fruit, Pakistan really blessed with wonderful fruits of the world.
Recommend
PATRICIA D'lIMA May 11, 2017 02:19am
Gosh, how I miss eating them...such a wonderful fruit.
Recommend
Kaif May 11, 2017 02:54am
Would anyone know the English or botanical name of this fruit?
Recommend
Ramana May 11, 2017 03:36am
Best summer drink, in Hyderabad Deccan summer time we have al sorts of hawkers and stores selling this beverage.... awesome taste. Dont add sugar you will mess the real taste and remove all goodness
Recommend
Surinder Gill May 11, 2017 04:32am
We miss Falsa, Leechi, Jamun, good mangoes and many other fruits in USA, Thanks Dawn , at least I saw Falsa in photo, Love Punjab and its fruits and peoples.
Recommend
BNJ May 11, 2017 10:18am
What is Falsa? never heard of it. Can anyone tell me the english name of falsa so that i can search for it.
Recommend
an observer May 11, 2017 10:23am
Pardon my ignorance, what's falsa in English.
Recommend
muhammad yousuf May 11, 2017 10:37am
No doubt it is very beneficial fruit. But before using we have to wash it, which result in loss of nutrition. can anybody guide the best way of washing keeping nutrition in tact?
Recommend
Abdul khaliq May 11, 2017 10:55am
In certain clinical trials, grewia asiatica has been proved to lower blood glucose and improve cholesterol. Like any other fruit, it protects our heart and defends against cancers. It certainly has revitalizing and rejuvenating effects through its antioxidant content.
Recommend
GhOSH May 11, 2017 11:21am
Wonderful to know that Falsa is found as far away as in Pakistan ! I thought it is only found in southern Bengal, as I have never seen this anywhere else in West Bengal, India or abroad! As you will find from the comments, many people are simply ignorant about its existence! I find now that it is widely discussed in Wikipedia under Grewia asiatica!
Recommend
Ravi vancouver May 11, 2017 11:26am
@an observer Falsa in English is called " Black Currant ".
Recommend
AKS May 11, 2017 12:14pm
I love Falsas. But can we eat falsas with its seeds?
Recommend
Jibboo May 11, 2017 12:38pm
Elsewhere in the paper, there is an article about a Danish Chef's demo in Islamabad; one of the dishes presented was: "Faalsa tarts with white chocolate".
Recommend
Mansoor May 11, 2017 12:50pm
its good to hear is benefits, have any one seen the increasing rates of all the fruits including "Faslsas" , how a poor/labor can afford it? The govt could at least make the fruits cheep, as the farmers and all the poor who grow them with their own hands can take them.
Recommend
Wasim Kamran May 11, 2017 01:31pm
very informative
Recommend
ENGR PSYCHO May 11, 2017 02:50pm
One of friend working in Punjab told me about. Since then I love to eat it. but it is not available in KPK
Recommend
sajed syed May 11, 2017 05:29pm
@Kaif , Grewia Asiatica Google brother. No need to ask these days.
Recommend
ZAHI May 11, 2017 08:52pm
@Ravi vancouver .. its not same thing. It is produced in my home town of souther punjab and sindh in pak. Even compare Black Currant picture with Falsa you will feel the difference. In Canada (Toronto area) its available in desi stores now a days.
Recommend
bornindian May 11, 2017 10:36pm
@Ramana Thanks for reminding my good old days in Hyderabad, we use to savour Falsa Sharbat in summer, specially during Ramadan
Recommend
usman May 12, 2017 08:03am
why cant we pack this stuff and export it am here in Malaysia and craving it
Recommend
Harish Khanna May 12, 2017 10:22am
@GhOSH Whole my life I have eaten Falsa in Delhi. It is commonly available everywhere in India.
Recommend
stargazer May 12, 2017 12:25pm
Good Research. Can you please also let us know what is the English name for Falsa ?
Recommend
Khurram Khan May 12, 2017 02:05pm
@BNJ Cranberry.
Recommend
an observer May 14, 2017 03:33am
grewia asiatica is called Phalsa and can be googled as well.
Recommend
NACParis May 15, 2020 12:28pm
@an observer Not sure but could be a family member of cranberry
Recommend
rafiq May 15, 2020 12:36pm
@Kaif Could it be the Blue berries?
Recommend
AZAM AKBAR May 15, 2020 12:43pm
Who can afford to buy falsa?
Recommend
Sheeraz May 15, 2020 12:50pm
Loving this fruit for another reason now... and I'm sure the fruit would'n even have any idea... that for once it has brought the-always-warring subcontinental folks together.. nice to have some positivity after all... chao
Recommend
Saoud Ahmed May 15, 2020 01:02pm
I remember the school days, when I used to buy it for 10 rupees rolled in a piece of newspaper!
Recommend
Mohsin May 15, 2020 01:03pm
@Kaif Grewia Asiatica is the botanical name of Falsa. Falsa belongs to the berry family, and people often mistake it for blueberries; they are close relatives but are not the same. In the family of Tiliaceae, only one genus, Grewia, yields edible fruit which is Falsa.
Recommend
Bhaijan May 15, 2020 02:12pm
Falsa yeah wonderful fruit in summer, only for short time, it has a very short shelf live, hence many had been preparing juice putting up some preservative to enjoy year long. But fresh falsas are outstanding, can be eaten by pouring little salt, or sugar on it. Another wonderful fruit is jamun, that’s a proven support to diabetic, and now also available in US as freezed option. The fresh jamun or falsa are not available in EU or US, though you can get almost every fruit in west, Jamun & falsa are exceptions.
Recommend
surinderkalirah May 15, 2020 02:15pm
Mouth watering.Miss this fruit here in canada Black currant plants are grown in Toronto but it's taste is way different.
Recommend
Al May 15, 2020 06:36pm
@Kaif I don't know but when I eat blueberries here in Canada, I pretend that they are falsas.
Recommend
AKL May 15, 2020 07:09pm
Where can we get them in India
Recommend
Syed Hafeez Imran May 15, 2020 07:20pm
@Khurram Khan Sorry cranberry nd falsa are different
Recommend
Bhaijan May 15, 2020 07:22pm
@GhOSH There’s plenty of falsa plantations in Sindh & Punjab, but goods news are now we have plenty of leechees, cocnut, Star berries too, grown in Sindh & Punjab. In Karachi most of the falsas come from outskirts of Karachi big agricultural lands , it’s in Malir & beyond. I know once these were priority fruits of W.Bengal, and still it’s a pride of Kolkatta streets sale on leaves of banana, with little masala on it, Yeah I am missing the pine apple, and meetha aloo, And amra, offered in same way. Best wishes to Kolkataiites.
Recommend
KASHIF QURESHI May 15, 2020 10:49pm
@Kaif Maybe Flevia....
Recommend
Bp May 15, 2020 11:00pm
Jamun trees are in Florida, my brother went to wedding in one resort and he picked from tree , we are farmers and we and my elder brother can climb the trees.
Recommend
Laila May 15, 2020 11:41pm
I have not had Falsas in years but as a child I would buy them, wrapped in newspaper, with salt. It was heaven. I never knew it was healthy.
Recommend
Laila May 15, 2020 11:47pm
@Saoud Ahmed Omg same!!! I really miss those times.
Recommend
Nk May 15, 2020 11:55pm
Greatly miss here in US. Though Acai Berry juice has some what close comparison to Falsa Juice.
Recommend
M. Saeed May 16, 2020 12:36am
Falsa and allubokhara sherbat is a unique combination to kill the heat-wave ailments.
Recommend
gghh May 16, 2020 07:23am
@BNJ Grewia asiatica
Recommend