From dreams to Bael fruitality!
Near the end of my stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand I bought package of strange dried fruit slices at a market. The woman said they could be used to make delicious herbal tea. They were called Bael, or Bengal Quince, and the package cost about a buck. While the supplies lasted, I got into the routine of staying up until 4 in the morning practicing guitar and working on the computer. I’d stay hydrated during this time with a cup or two of this brewed fruit mixed with honey. They were heavenly days.
After two years of intermittent searching, I finally found the fruit again. All manner of Asian and Indian markets in various cities were explored before eBay came to the rescue. From a seller in Thailand, I purchased what turned out to be the very same package of Bael from the very same city I had bought it before. The only difference is that this time it cost $3.25 with the added $9 of registered airmail. Not a cheap drink by any means, but oh so good.
There’s nothing else that smells like this. There’s nothing that tickles my palate and bowels with such delicate and earthy citrus flavor.
Drink well, my friends. For the season of Bael is upon us (me)!
6 Comments
Maybe arsenic is providing the unique flavor.
November 1st, 2007 at 10:23 ameastern ageS! you idiot! we don’t have enough money for another stamp! here’s a blue pen. you have a new job, now.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:23 pmDURIAN
November 4th, 2007 at 11:25 amI happened upon your site from GOOD mag. Your site rocks! How long were you in Asia for (I read it in the Adweek article)?
November 4th, 2007 at 8:11 pmBeing a chef, I was *intrigued* by this article. How a guy searched all over the continent for an exotic fruit that fueled his late-night activities!
Anyway, i stumbled upon it in chinatown (in Sydney) yesterday and I immediately bought it, took it to the restaurant and told everyone i found something special.
Sadly, it wasn’t what I hoped it to be. I would say it tasted more like coconut than citrus.
I guess sometimes food nourishes our memory more than our taste bud.
Then again, maybe i will be addicted to it AFTER i finish my packet of beal. :)
http://www.sos-arsenic.net/english/homegarden/possi_dev.html
November 1st, 2007 at 10:12 am