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Engkala facts

Engkala with scientific name as Litsea garciae, is a jungle plant which is from family of Avocado that is easily found in Sarawak mostly Sibu, Oya, Mukah and Igan. It has rounded fruits and green colored leaves. Fruits are green which turns to reddish color when ripened. The stem is broken easily. It grows in the jungle or riverbanks naturally.

Name Engkala
Scientific Name Litsea garciae
Native Native to Sarawak and Southwest Sabah regions such as Malaysia, Kalimantan, Indonesia and Philippines.
Common/English Name Engkala
Name in Other Languages Borneo: Kangkala, Engkala, Medang, Pangalaban, Ta’ang,
Indonesia:–
Bangka: Malai,
Javanese: Wuru Lilin,
Malinau, Punan, Kalimantan: Kelimah,
Kalimantan, Lundaye: Bua Talal,
Merap, Kalimantan: Kelime, Kelimie ,
Kalimantan, Kenyah Uma’ Lung: Mail,
Malinau, Abai, Kalimantan: Bua’ Vengolobon,
Malinau, Berau, Kalimantan: Wi Lahal,
Kalimantan, Pua’ Malinau: Kelima,
Kalimantan, Leppo’ke’ Malinau: Mali,
Pujungan, Leppo’ Ma’ut, Kalimantan: Mali,
Pujungan, Uma’ Long, Kalimantan: Mali,
Pujungan, Uma’ Lasan, Kalimantan: Beva’ Mali, Mali,
Pujungan, Uma’ Badeng, Kalimantan: Mali,
Pujungan, Uma’ Bakung, Kalimantan: Kayu Mali,
Pujungan, Penan Benalui, Kalimantan: Malei, Mali;
Malaysia:
Sarawak: Pengalaban Pengolaban, Engkala,
Sarawak, Bidayuh: Ta’ang,
Sabah: Pengolaban;
Philippines:-
Bagobo: Kupa,
Bikol: Pipi,
Tagalog: Bagnolo,
Taiwan(Chinese): Lan Yu Mu Jiang Zi
Plant Growth Habit Sub canopy, medium sized, evergreen
Plant Size Height: 10-25 m; Trunk diameter: 40-50 cm
Lifespan Perennial
Branchlets Stout, sub glabrous
Leaf Alternate, simple, ovate- lanceolate or obovate- lanceolate, glabrous, 25-40 cm by 6-15 cm
Flower Small, yellowish to white, Diameter: 15 mm
Fruit shape & size Oblate, globose, Across: 22-30 mm, Diameter: 2.5-4.5 cm
Fruit color Immature: Pale greenish white
Matured: Pink or red
Flesh color Creamy white
Fruit peel Thin
Flavor/aroma Similar to avocado
Seed Single seed, 15-20 mm
Health Benefits
  • Skin health
  • Antioxidant properties
  • Treats eczema
  • Cure diabetes
  • Prostate health
  • Heart health
  • Alopecia
  • Liver damage
  • Treats night blindness
  • Repairs muscles
Calories in 100 gm 104 Kcal.
Traditional uses
  • Iban use a lightly burned bark to treat caterpillar stings.
  • Selako use the leaves or shoots poultice along with shallot and fennel seed to cure infections and skin diseases.
  • It also treats for skin burns.
  • Iban use a bark poultice to treat boils.
  • The decoction made from bark helps to treat the ailments such as blood in stools.
  • The poultice made with an extract of young and bark is used to treat boils.
  • An equal portion of bark as well as durian bark used as antidote on the snakebite wounds.
  • Penan uses the bark and poultice for the sprained knees, ankles and muscular pains.
Precautions Engkalak should not be consumed after plucked because it possesses rancid taste and minor itchiness which discomforts tongue.
How to Eat
  • Fruits are consumed fresh or added to foods.
  • The seeds are used to extract oil.
  • Unripe Engkalak are preserved as pickles.
  • The fruit is eaten raw as well as steamed with rice.
  • Unripe fruits are preserved in a salt solution or vinegar.

 

References:

https://books.google.com.np/books?id=uRHwlkQVS2QC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=#

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