02/01/2023
Lapsi (also known as labsi or lausi) are a native fruit of Nepal. The tall subtropical tree can be found growing in many parts of the country. The fruit is greenish-yellow when ripe and roughly resembles a small oval-shaped plum. It is extremely sour, even when fully ripe, and has a high vitamin C content. The fruit has a tough fibrous skin and pale yellow flesh, which is firmly attached to a large brown seed. The pulp is difficult to separate from the seeds, but once cooked it separates easily. A ripe lapsi has a pleasantly tart flavor and some people like to eat it fresh, but it is mainly used to make dried fruit nuggets or fruit leather (titauraa, maadaa, paaun) both sweet and salted. It is also pickled, cooked with vegetables or used as a souring agent. The stony seeds (champati) are used as a cooking fuel and some children play with the seeds like round marbles.
