Chunda (Solanum Torvum) — Vegetables of Kerala

Chunda (Solanum torvum) plants produce small perfectly spherical fruits, which was commonly found almost throughout Kerala is now almost a rare sight. People used chunadakka (the fruit of chunda or sunda) as a vegetable that goes into sambar and individual curries. Chundakka is also spelt chundakkai, sundakka and sundakkai). Its English name is Turkey berry.

People also used to preserve this wild-looking fruit by first soaking in curd and then drying. This preserved chundakka is used in different simple preparations.

Chunda is a hardwood shrub that grows to a height of 2-3 m and spread their leaves. Stems have small thorns. The fruits are harvested before they are fully ripe.

As an Ayurvedic herb, it has sedative, diuretic and digestive properties. It used in the treatment for coughs. It is a tonic for liver.

Solanum torvum belongs to the family Solanaceae.