Bael fruit, Bengal quince
Aegle marmelos

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It loses its leaves. It grows to 3-6-12 m tall and spreads 2 m across. The stem is erect and thorny. The leaves are green and with 3 leaflets and generally sword shaped. They are aromatic. The flowers are yellowish-white. They have a strong sweet smell. They contain both sexes and occur in clusters. The fruit is large and with a hard shell about 3 mm thick. It is 8-10 cm across. The fruit is yellow-green when ripe. The pulp is reddish or orange. The pulp of the fruit is edible. The fruit is made up of small cells (about 15) each with woolly seeds.

There are 3 Aegle species. In some places the fruit is used as treatment for diarrhoea. The tree is common in temple gardens in India. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It prefers rich well drained soils in an open sunny position. It suits tropical or warm places. It appears to do best where there is a distinct dry season. It is drought and frost tender. It grows in Nepal to about 1100 m altitude. A hot dry summer is best. It can tolerate some alkalinity and salty soils. It can tolerate alkalinity. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh (country/location of origin), Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Guianas, Hawaii, Himalayas, India (country/location of origin), Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan (country/location of origin), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used to make drinks. The fruit are often sliced and dried. Marmalade can be made from ripe pulp. They can also be pickled or used in jams and jellies. The young shoots and leaves can be eaten raw in salad. They are also used in chutneys. The flowers are used to make a drink. CAUTION: There are reports that leaves make women sterile or cause abortions.

Fruit are sold in markets. It is commonly cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves condiment, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. Seed are taken from freshly picked ripe fruit. Seedlings are planted out after one year. It can be grown from root offshoots. They are best grown using patch budding. Trees are spaced 6-9 m apart. Trees can be pruned to have 4-6 strong branches. Suckers should be removed. It can also be grown from root suckers or air layering.

It is slow growing. Trees produce in 3-4 years. Full production is gained after 15 years. Fruit are produced throughout the year. Fruit should be picked and not allowed to drop. There can be 200-400 fruit per tree. A fruit can weigh 1 kg. Fruit ripen in the dry season. Fruit can be ripened off the tree. Trees can continue bearing for 50 years. The fruit can be stored for 2 weeks at 30°C and for 4 months at 10°C.

Its other names

Local names

Aluvigam, Arbol de bael, Bak tuum, Beel, Bel, bela, Belang, Beli, Bella, Belo, Belpatri, Belthei, Belu, Bil, Bila, Bilak, Bili, Bilpatre, Bilva, Bnau, Chilongpak chi, Golden apple, Hpun ja, Indian bael, Indian quince, Iyalbudi, Kawista, Kia-bok, Koovalam, Ma pin, Maak tum, Mahafal, Mak-phyn, Maja batu, Maja ingus, Maja, Mak tum, Maredoo, Maredu, Marmelo, Matoon, Matoom, Matum, Muredu, Okshit, Opesheet, Phnao, Phneu, Pnoeu, Pohon maja manis, Sinje dari, Sirphal, Soh-bel, Srifal, Thepli, Toum, Tum, Vilva marum, Vilvam, Vilvan, Yod maak tuum

Synonyms

Aegle marmelos var. mahurensis Zate; Belou marmelos (L.) A. Lyons; Bilacus marmelos (L.) Kuntze; Crateva marmelos L.; Feronia pellucida Roth.;