Last Updated on June 9, 2021 by Sindhu
Chironji are small edible seeds from the tree, Buchanania lanzan. It is native to India and is mostly found in states with dry areas. Chironji tree belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, just like Cashew and Mango.
They are used as a spice and also to garnish desserts. Common Indian names include Chironji and Charoli.
They are called Calumpang nuts in English.
These nuts are found inside the kernel of chironji fruit.
Table of contents:
- How to identify?
- How are they produced?
- Flavor profile
- Culinary uses
- Health benefits
- Side effects
- Other names
- Where to buy
How to identify chironji seeds
The outer layer of these seeds is light brown in color with dark brown speckled spots. They are slightly flattened in the center. Their size is similar to lentils.
When the outer layer is removed, they are soft and look very similar to pine nuts.
How are they produced?
Chironji seeds are found inside the fruits. These fruits look similar to blueberries or small black grapes.
Even though the fruits are edible, they are not widely available in India. The seeds are the most important part because of their high fat content.
The fruits are dried and the outer flesh is removed, exposing the inner kernel. The kernels are then smashed to remove the seeds from the inside.
Flavor profile
They have a flavor very much similar to almond with a nutty aroma. That is the reason they are also called Caddupah almonds or almondette.
Even though they can be eaten raw, roasting them removes the slightly bitter undertone and enhances the flavor.
Culinary uses of Chironji seeds
Chironji seeds have a special place in Indian cuisine. They are mainly used to garnish desserts like halwa, kheer(Indian pudding), and shrikhand(Yogurt-based Indian dessert). The seeds when used as a topping add a crunchy texture and also perfectly complements the sweetness of these dishes.
They are also used to thicken meat gravies like korma(thick sauce similar to curry). The high-fat content in these seeds adds a lot of flavor, creaminess, and richness to the dishes. They also pair very well with the spices used in these dishes.
Many people add them to kebabs, to enhance their texture, especially when preparing kebabs with ground meat.
Ability to use them in both sweet and savory dishes make them a very versatile ingredient.
Health benefits of Chironji seeds
Chironji seeds are a nutritional powerhouse like any other nuts. They contain a very high level of fat content which makes them a very good competitor for popular nuts like cashews and almonds.
- Cooling effect on the body: These seeds have an excellent ability to cool the body, especially when taken in the form of traditional dishes like Saara paruppu kanji (A thick stew made from Chironji seeds powder).
- Good cholesterol: Even though they have a high-fat content, they do have an ideal omega fat ratio. Hence, they can increase good cholesterol in the body.
- Helps in managing diabetes: These seeds are rich in fiber content, which helps keep the diabetic levels in control.
- Best postnatal snack: In many Indian families, chironji seeds are given to lactating mothers, as it is an excellent postnatal supplement.
- Regular bowel movements: They are also useful in treating occasional constipation by having regular bowel movements.
- Healthy skin: Chironji seeds are an excellent source of healthy fats and they do play a major role in maintaining healthy skin. Chironji oil is widely used in traditional Indian skin remedies and acts as a very good substitute for almond oil.
- Healthy hair: The seeds can be used in various hair packs which helps in maintaining healthy hair and scalp.
- Treats inflammation: They have anti-inflammatory properties which help in maintaining overall health.
- Fertility and reproductive health: They also have the ability to keep fertility issues at bay by maintaining good reproductive health.
- Improves eyesight: Regular consumption of these seeds may help in maintaining healthy eyesight.
- They also help in treating mouth ulcers, respiratory illnesses, and digestive issues.
Side effects
Most commonly known side-effect of these seeds is constipation, especially when raw seeds are consumed in huge quantity.
And eating Chironji fruit along with these nuts is a good remedy to reduce the side-effect.
Other names
Chironji tree being native to India, it has many names in different laguages. But Chironji and Charoli are the most common names.
- English – Cuddapah almonds or Almondette or Calumpang nuts.
- Telugu – Sara pappu or morri or charu mamidi (since it belongs to mango family) or priyaluru.
- Hindi – Chironji or chirounji or charoli or piyal or char.
- Marathi – Chironji or chareli.
- Gujarathi – Charoli.
- Tamil – Charam or saara paruppu.
- Malayalam – Kalamavu or mungalperlu or cheru.
- Bengali – Chironji or piyal or sarop.
- Kannada – Charole or kole maavu or morate or morappi.
- Oriya – Charu or chanhra.
Where to buy
You can find them in any Indian grocery stores under the name Charoli or Chironji.
To buy online, Check out on Amazon.
Note: Anyone with nut allergies should be cautious before trying these Chironji seeds as they are from the same family as Cashews.
