What Is Ice Apple? Top Health Benefits and How to Eat It

In the scorching heat of summer, nature offers us cooling remedies — one of the most refreshing being the Ice Apple , also known as Tadgola in Marathi, Nungu in Tamil, and Taal in Bengali. This translucent, jelly-like fruit is the tender seed of the Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer), commonly found in tropical regions of South and Southeast Asia. Often mistaken for lychee or coconut water in texture, ice apple is a lesser-known superfruit packed with hydration and nutrients.

What Is Ice Apple ?
Ice apple is the immature seed of the Palmyra palm, harvested while it is still soft and filled with a sweet, mildly flavored juice. Each fruit pod contains 2 to 3 jelly-like seeds enclosed in a thin yellowish-brown skin. When peeled, the translucent pulp resembles ice — hence the name.

It has a subtle, sweet taste with a coconut-like flavor and is especially popular in the summer months for its cooling effect on the body.

Top Health Benefits of Ice Apple

Natural Body Cooler
Ice apple helps maintain body temperature during high heat, preventing dehydration and heatstroke. Its high water content makes it a perfect summer thirst-quencher.

Aids Digestion
This fruit is gentle on the stomach and known to relieve common digestive issues like constipation and bloating. It has a soothing effect on the digestive tract and may help with acid reflux.

Rich in Electrolytes
Packed with essential electrolytes such as potassium and sodium, ice apple helps restore balance in the body, especially after sweating in hot weather.

Low in Calories
With very few calories and natural sugars, it is ideal for those looking to manage weight while staying hydrated and energized.

Promotes Skin Health
Its hydrating properties and vitamins help rejuvenate skin and may reduce the appearance of acne and blemishes. Some even use ice apple pulp as a natural face mask.

Supports Pregnancy Health
Traditionally, ice apple has been recommended for pregnant women to reduce acidity and morning sickness while providing hydration and mild nutrition.

Helps Manage Diabetes
With a low glycemic index and natural sugars, ice apple can be a good fruit option for people managing blood sugar levels, although moderation is still advised.

How to Eat Ice Apple

Raw and Fresh
Simply peel away the thin outer skin and enjoy the translucent pulp raw. It’s soft, juicy, and best served chilled.

With a Splash of Lime and Salt
To enhance flavor, sprinkle a little salt and a few drops of lime juice on the peeled fruit.

In Drinks and Smoothies
Ice apple pulp can be added to coconut water, milk, or fresh juices for a naturally cooling summer drink.

In Desserts
It can be mixed into chilled kheer (milk pudding), fruit salads, or used as a topping for yogurt and ice cream.

Ice apple is a tropical gem that combines refreshing taste with a powerhouse of health benefits. From cooling the body to aiding digestion and hydration, it’s nature’s perfect answer to the summer heat. Easily available in local markets from April to June, this seasonal treat is worth adding to your warm-weather diet.

Whether enjoyed raw, in a drink, or as part of a dessert, ice apple is a sweet, simple way to stay nourished and cool naturally.