Tudu Hommie: Starting info

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Starting info

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{{Short description|Root vegetable of India}}
{{Orphan|date=April 2022}}

[[File:Ram Kand Mool.jpeg|thumb|180px|Shree Ram Kand Mool]] '''Ram Kand Mool''' is a [[drum]]-shaped [[tuber]] mainly found in Indian states of [[Karnataka]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]] and [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=B |first1=Sharmila |title=ರಾಮನ 'ಭೂಚಕ್ರ ಗೆಡ್ಡೆ' ಆಹಾರ, ರಾಮನೂರಿಗರಿಗೆ ಫಲಹಾರ! [Rama's 'Bhoomi Chakra Tumor' for food] |url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/news/ramanagara/bhoochakra-gadde-or-kandamool-being-sold-in-bengaluru/articleshow/87532761.cms |publisher=[[Vijaya Karnataka]] |date=November 5, 2021 |language=Kannada}}</ref> It is a lesser-known variety of tuber and [[root]]-[[fruit]]. Even though its identity is mysterious, it is believed to be the flowering stalk of Century plant (Agave Sisalana or [[Sisal]]) via research.<ref name=a>{{cite news |last1=Vijaykumar |first1=Vaishali |title=An earthy treat to taste buds |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/food/2022/feb/16/an-earthy-treatto-taste-buds-39081.html |agency=[[Indulge Express]] |publisher=[[The New Indian Express]] |date=February 16, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=K. |first1=Amritha |title=Ram Kand Mool: Does It Have Any Health Benefits? Read About This 'Highly Secretive' Food |url=https://www.boldsky.com/health/nutrition/what-is-ram-kand-mool-origin-taste-does-it-have-any-health-benefits-140455.html?story=5 |work=Boldsky.com |date=April 6, 2022}}</ref><ref>''[[The Indian Forester]]'' - Volume 111, Issues 1-6 - Page 242, 1985</ref> It is believed in Hinduism that Lord Rama consumed this root-fruit when he was in exile for 14 years.

== History ==
=== Mythological Significance ===
According to Hindu historical texts, Ram Kand Mool was consumed by [[Rama|Lord Rama]], his wife [[Sita]], and his brother [[Lakshmana]] during their exile in the forest.<ref name=b>{{cite news |last1=Kumar V R |first1=Ajith |title=Ram Kand Moool |url=https://krishijagran.com/agripedia/ram-kand-moool/ |publisher=[[Krishi Jagran]] |date=April 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Andryanto |first1=S. Dian |title=Asal-usul Ram Kand Mool, Kuliner India Seiring Kisah Rama Sinta |url=https://dunia.tempo.co/read/1576656/asal-usul-ram-kand-mool-kuliner-india-seiring-kisah-rama-sinta |publisher=[[Tempo (Indonesian magazine)|Tempo]] |language=Indonesian}}</ref>

=== Research ===
In the 1980s, the Indian botanists unsuccessfully tried to find more information on Ram Kand Mool. Later in 1994, the [[Shivaji University]], [[Kolhapur]] resorted to [[DNA Fingerprinting|DNA fingerprinting]] to identify the Ram Kand Mool plant and concluded that it is a variety of ''[[Agave americana]]''. The anatomical study showed the plant is a typical monocotyledonous vascular bundle arrangement. However, this added more confusion, as monocots have adventitious roots and not a tap root system.<ref name=b/>

Hence, to find out the source, the plant material was obtained from a vendor from [[Jyotiba Temple]] in [[Kolhapur district]], [[Maharashtra]]. The slices of approximately 4.5 inches radius and 2–3 mm breadth were brought to the laboratory and DNA was extracted from slices of Ram Kand Mool. Its purity was searched on agarose gel. The plastid locus for maturase k was selected to identify the plant species. The similarity search revealed 89 per cent identity with the partial sequence of the plastid locus maturase of [[Agave sisalana]].<ref name=b/><ref>{{cite journal |title=DNA barcoding for identification of the enigmatic plant Ramkand |journal=[[Current Science]] |date=May 10, 2011 |volume=100| issue = 9 |page=1277 |url=https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/100/09/1277.pdf}}</ref>

== Consumption ==
[[File:Shri Ram Kand Mool, Sold at Bhedaghat - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Ram Kand Mool being sold on a street in [[Bhedaghat]], [[Madhya Pradesh]]]]
It can be found during summer. It is served as thinly cut slices as a street snack, wrapped in leaves or papers, and eaten raw. It is seasoned with honey, palm sugar, lime, salt and chilli powder.<ref name=a/> Vendors selling Ram Kand Mool usually claim that consuming it can cool your stomach and satisfy your thirst. Ram Kand Mool is a starch-rich tuber. Some people consume Ram Kand Mool in powdered form as part of traditional medicines.<ref name=a/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Tubers]]
[[Category:Agave]]
[[Category:Sisal]]
[[Category:Fruits originating in Asia]]
[[Category:Edible fruits]]
[[Category:Root vegetables]]
[[Category:Street food in India]]
[[Category:Indian snack foods]]

Ram Kand Mool - Revision history

Tudu Hommie: Starting info