Amla (Gooseberry)

Amla is also known as Indian gooseberry, phyllanthus emblica or emblica officinails. Amla tree is about 15ft. to 25 ft. high. The fruit is round and green to greenish yellow in color. Amla is a commonly used ingredient in most of the ayurvedic preparations in the form of fresh fruit, dried fruits, fruit pulp or as extract. The eminence of amla is so well recognized in ayurveda that all the famous ancient text have discussed its preventive, restorative and curative usefulness and extolled its extraordinary medicinal qualities. Amla is a rare fruit which contains all tastes except salty. With sourness as the foremost taste, it is at the same time sweet, astringent, bitter and pungent. It is light, dry and cold in effect and the richest source of vitamin C.