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Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Indian Gooseberries (Usirikaya) - Revisiting Childhood
The fruit in the above picture is called a gooseberry (not to be confused with this gooseberry which is mainly used for pickles) and has a unique sour tang to it. The sourness, if i have to describe it to someone who has never eaten it, is somewhat close to that of a raw mango. These were sold in heaps on mobile carts outside my school and were eaten raw with a sprinkle of salt and red chili powder. And i have had my share as a kid. During school days, there was also a tree right next to the building where we lived and there were at least 10 kids around my age (plus or minus two years) living in that area. The whole gang of kids could always be found playing in the vicinity of the gooseberry tree. A vigorous shake of the tree would result in a rain of these green berries and the kids would rush to pick as many as we could hold in out tiny hands. The branches of the tree are quite fragile, i know now because i had a fractured right hand while playing around/ climbing the tree when i was five. It wasn't all bad, all i remember about that accident now is that i got to skip a whole set of exams in my first grade class because my writing hand was hurt and got to munch a whole lot of gooseberries too ;-)
All this revisiting the childhood is now happening because when my parents visited me a couple of weeks ago, they brought these gooseberries along. I hadn't eaten one in almost fifteen years. Turns out a tree miraculously appeared in their backyard and it bore first fruits this year. And how i could i not get a share of these childhood favourites. The black and white photo goes to Susan's Black and White Wednesday event at The Well Seasoned Cook. So did you have a taste of these gooseberries?
ur pic has made me all nostalgic too! remember eating these tart & yummy fuits every single day during summer vacs @ grannies house! sighhhh... gone are those days :(
I used to love love love these when i was a kid. I don't think anything has changed at all. I might just grab more than a two handfuls if I get these anywhere. Alas, in a foreign country there are zilch chances of getting these. Enjoy these on my behalf too, will you. Thanks for helping me rehash lovely memories.
I used to love these. Raasa usiri, or was it raacha? We used to have a tree in our backyard. Red ants would be going up the branches. I recently came across another tree in my Uncle's house - something I haven't seen in years. I've seen people make a short-term pickle with this.
yes thats something related to childhood as we had incredible power of eating something extremely tart like these and then had this power to digest it also. lovely clicks.
I saw your gooseberries of Black and White Wednesdays and just had to come over! This is the exact type of gooseberries we get in the Caribbean too! See here: http://www.tasteslikehome.org/2007/08/oh-to-be-kid-again-meme.html
Since Susan is not able to host BWW we thought it would be nice to have a place where we can collect BWW culinary pics for her when she comes back. Here is a Flirck group if you want to join: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1925597@N21/
Details are on my post too: http://foodblog.paulchens.org/?p=5652
thanks for listening and I hope if you like to idea for Susan too you'll help spread teh word!
the moment i saw the gooseberries i cud feel the sweet sour taste of it in my mouth.... i remember walking down in our colony as a child and collecting these berries. we enjoyed throwing stones to pluck thse... beautiful childhood! this post of urs was like a time machine... took me back to my lil hood days!!! thanks...
what is the name of those berries ,Im trying to buy a plant to grow,would help to know the name to search,amla is totally different,the stolen berries ,sometimes sold outside municipal schools,please whats the name,real name
I am told that these are called "Raasa Usiri" or simply "usirikaya" in telugu. Unfortunately do not know what they are called in any other language. Hope this helps.
Ari-nellika/ smaller gooseberries! Have not had them for years. Loved your posts. Is it not funny that the most expensive fruit in the Indian grocery store is the guava while it was the cheapest one in season.
My grandparents had this tree in their backyard. All the cousins would compete (fight) to get to them first. But some of us were scared of the green snakes that sometimes hung around this particular tree, hiding in the similarly green leaves. We used to call it's fruit "Seema Usirikaya". Don't know if it's because they look delicate and stylish(?) than the Pickling ones. There is a difference in the seed as well. Liked these better than the Pickling Usirikaya, as these are less sour and softer to bite and less after taste. although, the pickling Usirikaya is mainly eaten raw for the after taste.
ur pic has made me all nostalgic too! remember eating these tart & yummy fuits every single day during summer vacs @ grannies house! sighhhh... gone are those days :(
ReplyDeletedidn't mean to make you sad :( But its nice to hear you had fond memories with them too :)
DeleteLove these tiny berries, walking down the memory lane, love the black and white picture..
ReplyDeleteThanks Hema. so it wasn't a bad choice for BW wednesday :)
DeleteI used to love love love these when i was a kid. I don't think anything has changed at all. I might just grab more than a two handfuls if I get these anywhere. Alas, in a foreign country there are zilch chances of getting these. Enjoy these on my behalf too, will you. Thanks for helping me rehash lovely memories.
ReplyDeleteAnita, I haven't come across them in so many years even in India. Parents sprang a pleasant surprise and i had to put them up here :)
DeleteWe had this tree too. I love these gooseberries they are the best. Make chutney out of them Tastes SLu.....rp!
ReplyDeleteThanks Archana, but we ate them all as it is. When i get a next batch i will ask you for the chutney recipe
DeleteI too love these berries. Nice clicks.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anu. Thank you for stopping by
DeleteThese gooseberries makes me nostalgic,seriously missing them.
ReplyDeleteLoved these a lot..perfect fresh capture!!makes me home sick..
ReplyDeleteErivum Puliyum
Eating the yummy gooseberries as I type right now! Lehar Pepsi - am sure u can figure out who I am :D
ReplyDeleteTook me back to my school days...when i use to gulp them like anything....
ReplyDeleteOhh how much I love these!! Used to enjoy them a lot when I was young, haven't seen it for quite some time now. Nostalgic!
ReplyDeletewow...your pics have took me to my childhood days too..
ReplyDeletelovely post
Tasty Appetite
I used to love these. Raasa usiri, or was it raacha? We used to have a tree in our backyard. Red ants would be going up the branches. I recently came across another tree in my Uncle's house - something I haven't seen in years. I've seen people make a short-term pickle with this.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for sharing your thoughts and nostalgia.
ReplyDeleteu took me back to my childhood.i loved eating it with a dash of salt and chilly powder.
ReplyDeleteI love these raasa usiri.
ReplyDeleteyes thats something related to childhood as we had incredible power of eating something extremely tart like these and then had this power to digest it also. lovely clicks.
ReplyDeleteI saw your gooseberries of Black and White Wednesdays and just had to come over! This is the exact type of gooseberries we get in the Caribbean too! See here: http://www.tasteslikehome.org/2007/08/oh-to-be-kid-again-meme.html
ReplyDeleteI've never seen those before... An intriguing fruit.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
Love the Black and white photo!
ReplyDeleteSince Susan is not able to host BWW we thought it would be nice to have a place where we can collect BWW culinary pics for her when she comes back. Here is a Flirck group if you want to join: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1925597@N21/
Details are on my post too: http://foodblog.paulchens.org/?p=5652
thanks for listening and I hope if you like to idea for Susan too you'll help spread teh word!
Justbthis pic brought back so manynmemories,,.
ReplyDeletethe moment i saw the gooseberries i cud feel the sweet sour taste of it in my mouth.... i remember walking down in our colony as a child and collecting these berries. we enjoyed throwing stones to pluck thse... beautiful childhood! this post of urs was like a time machine... took me back to my lil hood days!!! thanks...
ReplyDeletewhat is the name of those berries ,Im trying to buy a plant to grow,would help to know the name to search,amla is totally different,the stolen berries ,sometimes sold outside municipal schools,please whats the name,real name
ReplyDeleteI am told that these are called "Raasa Usiri" or simply "usirikaya" in telugu. Unfortunately do not know what they are called in any other language. Hope this helps.
DeleteAri-nellika/ smaller gooseberries! Have not had them for years. Loved your posts. Is it not funny that the most expensive fruit in the Indian grocery store is the guava while it was the cheapest one in season.
ReplyDeleteMy grandparents had this tree in their backyard. All the cousins would compete (fight) to get to them first. But some of us were scared of the green snakes that sometimes hung around this particular tree, hiding in the similarly green leaves. We used to call it's fruit "Seema Usirikaya". Don't know if it's because they look delicate and stylish(?) than the Pickling ones. There is a difference in the seed as well. Liked these better than the Pickling Usirikaya, as these are less sour and softer to bite and less after taste. although, the pickling Usirikaya is mainly eaten raw for the after taste.
ReplyDelete