Chambakka (Syzygium samarangense)

Wax apple is a bell-shaped, glossy fruit from South-east Asia grown in Kerala homesteads as chambakka and in Bengal as jamrul. The crisp, white, watery flesh is mildly sweet and refreshing in hot weather. Taiwan has bred deep-red wax apples sold at high prices. Older books call it Eugenia samarangensis. It is a close relative of rose apple and water apple, but not of jamun.

Botanical name: Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry
Family: Myrtaceae
Tamil: Chambakka
Hindi: Jamrul
Parts used: Ripe fruit
Habit: Wax apple; not naval and not a children’s binge of unripe fruit
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Chambakka

It is an evergreen tree, usually five to fifteen metres tall, with a short trunk and a broad, low crown.

The leaves are large, opposite and oval, on very short stalks, and smell faintly aromatic when crushed.

Yellowish-white flowers with many long stamens appear in clusters on the branches.

The fruit is bell-shaped, five to eight centimetres long, with a thin, waxy, shiny skin in red, pink, white or green.

Inside, the flesh is white and spongy, with one or two seeds or none at all.

Traditional use of Chambakka

Kitchen

The fruit is eaten fresh with salt and chilli or sliced into salads, and is a common backyard snack in Kerala.

Kerala food practice

Kitchen

In Indonesia and Malaysia it goes into rujak, a spicy fruit salad.

Malay and Indonesian food practice

Farming

Taiwanese growers prune, girdle and cover trees with nets to force off-season crops of large, dark-skinned fruit.

Taiwanese orchard practice

Modern notes on Chambakka

The fruit is mostly water and low in calories, with small amounts of vitamin C and fibre.

Red-skinned types owe their colour to anthocyanins.

The fruit does not ripen further after picking and lasts only a few days.

Chambakka safety

Eat only ripe fruit, and wash it well because it is eaten with the skin. Fruit flies often lay eggs in the fruit, so cut it open before eating.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to the Malay Peninsula and nearby islands.

Bees pollinate the flowers.

It needs warm, humid weather and steady water to fruit well.

Related plants

Also in Myrtaceae

Questions about Chambakka

Is wax apple the same as jamrul?

Yes. Jamrul is the Bengali and Hindi name.

How is Chambakka different from water apple?

Wax apple has larger, glossier fruit.

Is Chambakka related to jamun?

Both are Syzygium, but jamun is a separate species with dark fruit.

What does Chambakka taste like?

Crisp, watery and mildly sweet.

Why do some fruits have worms?

Fruit flies lay eggs in ripening fruit.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.