Jungle Jalebi (Pithecellobium dulce)
This tree, native to South America and Mexico, is also found in various warm regions around the world, including Karachi and other areas of Sindh. It bears edible pods that offer a mixed taste of sweet and sour. The bark, leaves, and fruit of the Jungle Jalebi tree are all used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The fruit is rich in vitamin C and other nutrients.
I spent my childhood in Karachi during the 1970s. Back then, setting out to pluck Jungle Jalebi was a significant adventure for young boys. Often, we would form groups to search for Jujubes, mangoes, and Jungle Jalebi. We would swiftly climb trees, evading the watchful eyes of owners or gardeners, and enjoy these fruits with our hearts racing. If possible, we would even stash some away.
Especially after the monsoon rains, these young groups would venture out in search of these unripe and ripe fruits, and sometimes merely to find velvet red ladybugs crawling on the wet sand. In case of failure, this adventure would often pleasantly end with a game of cricket in the street. Such exploits not only provided nutritional and medicinal benefits but were also an essential part of our childhood joys. Today’s youth in Karachi may be unfamiliar with such adventures, but these are cherished memories of our childhood.
Shariq Ali
Valueversity