Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Indian prickly ash, is a tall tree of the Western Ghats whose dried fruit husks are tirphal, the citrusy, tingling spice of Konkani, Goan and Mangalorean fish curries. It is a cousin of Sichuan pepper and gives the same numbing tingle on the tongue. Its trunk is studded with corky, cone-shaped prickles.
- Botanical name
- Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) DC.
- Family
- Rutaceae
- Tamil
- Mullilam
- Hindi
- Tippani
- Parts used
- Dried fruit wall
- Habit
- Indian prickly ash; pepper is a shop word
- Last updated
- 2026-10-26
How to recognise Mullilam
It is a medium to tall deciduous tree whose trunk and branches carry large, corky, conical prickles.
The leaves are long and pinnate, with many pairs of narrow leaflets dotted with oil glands that smell of citrus and spice when crushed.
Small yellowish flowers grow in clusters. The fruit is a small, round capsule that splits to reveal a single shiny black seed.
The dried, split fruit husks, not the black seeds, are the spice.
Traditional use of Mullilam
Coastal cuisine
Tirphal is lightly crushed and added to fish and coconut curries along the Konkan and Kanara coast, and the seeds are usually discarded.
Konkani and Goan food practice
Forest practice
The aromatic fruit and bark have been used in folk preparations in the Western Ghats.
Western Ghats practice
Modern notes on Mullilam
The tingling sensation comes from alkylamides such as hydroxy-sanshool, the same compounds that make Sichuan pepper numbing.
The essential oil is rich in citrus-like terpenes, which explains the lemony aroma.
Mullilam safety
Use it as a spice in small amounts, as coastal cooks do.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in deciduous and semi-evergreen forests from India through Southeast Asia to northern Australia.
Much tirphal is still collected from wild trees, so sustainable harvesting helps keep supply steady.
Birds eat the seeds and spread them through the forest.
Related plants
Also in Rutaceae
Questions about Mullilam
Is tirphal Sichuan pepper?
It is a close relative with a similar tingling effect, but a different species.
What older names does Zanthoxylum rhetsa go by?
Fagara rhetsa and Zanthoxylum limonella.
Which part is used?
The dried fruit husks. The black seeds are usually discarded.
Sources
- Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) DC. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q13114182 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa)
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.