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Veliyath Gardens

Belimbing Darah Fruit Plants (Baccaurea Angulata)

Regular price 800.00
Regular price Sale price Rs. 800.00
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Plant Type

Belimbing Darah – A Forgotten Forest Jewel with Healing Red Richness

Common Name: Belimbing Darah (Blood Starfruit)
Botanical Name: Baccaurea angulata
Native Origin: Borneo Rainforests – Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei

A Glimpse into the Wild Elegance of Belimbing Darah

Emerging from the dense green rainforests of Borneo is a fruit unlike any other—Belimbing Darah, often referred to as the “blood starfruit” for its dramatic crimson pulp and rare character. Once known primarily to indigenous communities in Kalimantan and Sarawak, this fruit has now captured the attention of rare fruit growers and collectors across the globe. Its striking appearance, paired with a distinctive blend of flavors and ancestral healing uses, makes it one of the most extraordinary additions to any exotic plant collection.

Fruit Description – Where Color and Taste Collide

Each fruit develops directly on the main trunk or large branches in a cauliflorous pattern, giving the tree a fascinating visual appeal during fruiting season. The fruit ripens through rich color transitions—starting off as vibrant red, deepening into purple, and finally maturing into a dark reddish-brown.

  • Shape: Oblong or oval, roughly the size of a small plum

  • Pulp: Soft, juicy, and ruby red

  • Flavor: A thrilling dance of tart, sweet, and subtly earthy tones

  • Texture: Silken flesh with delicate skin surrounding small seeds

  • Fragrance: Lightly fruity with a faint forest aroma

Culinary Value – A Rare Treat for Taste Explorers

The bold sweet-and-sour flavor of Belimbing Darah sets it apart in tropical cuisine. While largely consumed fresh in its native regions, the fruit has slowly entered the creative palettes of adventurous chefs and health food lovers.

  • Served raw as a refreshing tropical snack

  • Incorporated into fermented health tonics and pickles

  • Processed into vibrant jams, fruit compotes, and relishes

  • Blended with citrus in juices and smoothies for an antioxidant boost

  • Sometimes sun-dried and powdered for traditional herbal infusions

The fruit’s vibrant pulp is also favored in traditional wedding and harvest rituals as a symbol of abundance and vitality.

Health and Wellness – Nature’s Red Remedy

The therapeutic use of Belimbing Darah is deeply rooted in native healing traditions. Locals have long trusted this fruit as a functional food with numerous restorative properties. Modern interest in its medicinal potential has only strengthened its appeal.

  • Natural Hypoglycemic Agent: Often consumed to support blood sugar regulation

  • Rich in Antioxidants: Helps reduce oxidative stress and supports skin repair

  • Vitamin C: A powerful immune booster

  • Iron and Calcium: Promotes blood health and bone strength

  • Mucolytic Properties: Known to relieve congestion, cough, and cold

  • Digestive Aid: Its tartness stimulates digestion and supports liver function

Regular consumption in small amounts is said to fortify the body against seasonal ailments and fatigue.

Growing the Plant – Beauty, Strength, and Resilience

Despite its rare status, Baccaurea angulata adapts beautifully to cultivated environments when planted with the right care. It is a moderate-maintenance fruit tree with a rewarding growth habit.

  • Tree Type: Shrub to medium-sized evergreen tree

  • Height at Maturity: Up to 8 meters

  • Climate: Thrives in warm tropical and subtropical climates with high humidity

  • Sunlight: Prefers partial shade; tolerates filtered sun in hotter zones

  • Soil: Best in moist, well-drained loamy soil; tolerates mild acidity

  • Watering: Requires consistent moisture but must not be waterlogged

  • Flowering/Fruiting: Begins fruiting in 2–3 years; flowers are small and clustered

  • Propagation: Usually grown from seeds; occasional grafting improves fruiting consistency

  • Pest Resistance: Naturally resilient with minimal pest issues

Its manageable size and striking cauliflorous fruiting habit also make it a showpiece in any rare tropical garden.

Traditions, Stories, and Symbolism

The people of Borneo regard Belimbing Darah as more than food—it is medicine, symbol, and story:

  • Fruits are gifted during healing visits or ritual cleansing

  • Some communities use its juice as an offering in ancestral rites

  • The deep red pulp is seen as a metaphor for inner strength and renewal

  • Known as a “women’s wellness fruit” in traditional herbalism for balancing energy

In today’s world, it’s an ideal addition for those who seek plants with cultural soul and botanical beauty.

Harvesting and Preservation

  • Harvest when fruits are plump, red-purple, and slightly soft

  • Fresh fruits are best consumed within 3 days

  • Can be refrigerated for up to a week

  • Pulp may be frozen, juiced, or dried for longer storage

  • Often preserved in local communities using sun-drying or salt fermentation

These preservation methods also enhance the fruit’s medicinal strength and culinary depth.

Veliyath Gardens – Cultivating Curiosity, Conserving the Rare

Veliyath Gardens is proud to be among the first in India to introduce the Belimbing Darah live plant—a remarkable initiative for collectors, healers, and garden lovers. Our effort to nurture this rare rainforest species reflects our mission to be more than a nursery.

We are a living fruit encyclopedia, offering rare botanical knowledge and first-time access to some of the world’s most forgotten and healing fruits.

Your Garden Deserves a Fruit with a Story

The Belimbing Darah is not just a plant—it’s a legacy wrapped in crimson skin, flavored with wild tang, and grounded in wisdom centuries old. Whether you’re seeking flavor, health, or a connection to forgotten cultures, this is a fruit that brings all three.

Due to limited propagation and growing demand, availability is extremely restricted at Veliyath Gardens. We encourage early bookings for this highly sought-after botanical gem.

Let your garden be the first to whisper the story of Belimbing Darah—now available at Veliyath Gardens, where rare fruits take root in new hearts.

Planting and Care

Climate: Thrives in warm tropical and subtropical climates with high humidity

Sunlight: Prefers partial shade; tolerates filtered sun in hotter zones

Soil: Best in moist, well-drained loamy soil; tolerates mild acidity

Special Feature

Natural Hypoglycemic Agent: Often consumed to support blood sugar regulation

Rich in Antioxidants: Helps reduce oxidative stress and supports skin repair

Vitamin C: A powerful immune booster

Uses/Benefits

Fruits are gifted during healing visits or ritual cleansing

Some communities use its juice as an offering in ancestral rites

The deep red pulp is seen as a metaphor for inner strength and renewal