Dabai is the plant which is found in tropical rainforest of Sarawak. Fruits are white when they are still immature and turn to purplish pink and powdery black color when ripened. Seeds are subtriangular in shape with three chambers. It is found in undisturbed lowland forests upto 700 meters altitude mostly on ridges and hillsides. It is found on limestones and usually present as pre-disturbance remnant tree. It is known as black olive but technically, it is not an olive. The tree grows to the height of 21 meters and the furry leaves are thin and twigs are covered with golden brown. Fruits are oblong resembling the shape of olive and has thin and edible skin. The flesh is yellowish white which wraps around three angled seed.

Plant description

Canarium odontophyllum is a medium sized and upright tree which measures 36 meters high having 86 cm trunk diameter and branched canopy at the top of the trunk. Leaves are thin, large and finely pugbescent and pinnate. New leaves forms in the color of red velvet or green. Branchlets and petioles have resinous ducts. Flower measures 10 mm across and is white-yellow. Male flower has six stamens  and female flower has six staminodes. Flowers are followed by fleshy and oblong to ellipsoidal drupe about 35–40 mm long by 20–25 mm wide. Fruits are white when immature which turns purplish black when ripe having thin and edible skin. Flesh is 4-7 mm thick and white or yellow. Seed is large and three angled pointed.

Health Benefits of Dabai

1. Act as antioxidant

Dabai lowers the signs of aging by reducing wrinkles and preserves the skin texture. It prevents skin from sun damage and lowers the chances of sunburn.

2. Lipid

It produces energy and protects vital organs such as kidneys, heart, spleen and liver.

3. Magnesium

Magnesium helps to lower the chances of coronary heart diseases. It is beneficial to cardiovascular system. The sources of magnesium and potassium are associated with reducing blood pressure. Moreover, it treats diabetes, insomnia, migraines and depression.

4. Calcium

It promotes bone mass in both growing children and young adults. It can lower bone loss during aging. It prevents the chances of weight gain as it promotes more fat to be burned and less fat is stored.

5. Fatty acids

The diet with low content of fatty acids results in skin problems such as eczema, split nails, dandruff and brittle hair. It regulates blood pressure, liver function and immune responses and also support blood clotting and breaking down of cholesterol.

Culinary uses

• It is used in various recipes such as fried rice, pizza, maki, mixed vegetables, mayonnaise, desserts, salad sauce, ice cream and chips.
• Soak it in hot water for 10 minutes till it becomes soft and then consume with sugar or soy sauce in a meal.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canarium_odontophyllum

http://www.tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Canarium+odontophyllum

http://dezatiee.blogspot.com/2013/12/dabai-fruit-and-its-contains.html

 

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