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3 ways to make the most of falsa season

3 ways to make the most of falsa season

Such a tiny fruit, so many possibilities.
Updated 10 May, 2019

Ah, the mighty Falsa! That sweet yet tangy fruit makes summer (almost) worth waiting for.

A falsa lover is like a Game of Thrones fan. We wait impatiently for the season and when it's over, we're left wanting more. Except falsas don't mess with our heads that much. I'm fine with that...

While I derive great pleasure from grabbing falsas by the fistfuls and cramming them in my mouth, I suspected I could get more out of the summer fruit.

I had hoped to go on a culinary adventure - you know, try a savory dish with extracts of falsa, or a dessert like falsa cobbler, but no such luck.

But my search for falsa foods turned out to help in my heat-beating, thirst-quenching mission through the summer months. I tried the three most obvious choices available: juice, sorbet and kulfi.

Where to go

Wondering how I got hold of this falsa beauty?  Read on...
Wondering how I got hold of this falsa beauty? Read on...

Falsa juice: I decided to hit my go-to juice joint, Greeno's. Their Go Guava juice is my favorite drink and they have amazing smoothies. I found falsa juice at the Greeno's at Dolmen City Mall, but there are branches in The Place and on Khayaban-E-Muhafiz too.

Falsa sorbet: People have been raving about Saydyz's falsa with black salt sorbet, so it made sense to give it a try. They are takeaway and delivery service that can be contacted via their Facebook page.

Falsa kulfi: I ordered some from Tempting Bites by ZEE. Like Saydyz, they operate via a Facebook page.

What I ordered

Falsa juice: I decided to grab some falsa juice from Greeno's right after a long, tiring day of work because that's when you really need a pick-me-up. And I got what I asked for!

Sooo... half way through the drink, I realised I forgot to take a picture. Here's what half a cup of falsa juice looks like.
Sooo... half way through the drink, I realised I forgot to take a picture. Here's what half a cup of falsa juice looks like.

They blend the falsa for the juice so it has an amazing texture and while they offer additions like sugar I opted for au natural and it was good... so good!

Falsa sorbet: Saydyz has the falsa with black salt sorbet and lemme tell you people, you need this in this heat! The black salt was a smart addition because the sweetness of the sorbet could have overpowered the falsa flavor, but the salt kept the the taste on track.

Saydyz's sorbet, people. It's a magical concoction!
Saydyz's sorbet, people. It's a magical concoction!

Falsa kulfi: ZEE had the kulfi and... I don't know what to say. Like mango kulfi I was expecting a twist to the classic treat, but it turned out to be just another sorbet. Perhaps the name threw me off because there was that initial 'what even' reaction. But I had a chat with the owner and she says that kulfi is what they call sorbet in Delhi and her food is all Delhi style. Still, I think if you're marketing in Karachi... kulfis and sorbets are two very different things.

Sorbet or kulfi? Spot the difference! (Saydyz's on the left, Zee's on the right)
Sorbet or kulfi? Spot the difference! (Saydyz's on the left, Zee's on the right)

The 'kulfi' was okay, a little too sweet for my liking but I am sure people with a sweet tooth would enjoy it much more.

Damage on the pocket

The falsa kulfi come in little bottles. That meant I had to share!
The falsa kulfi come in little bottles. That meant I had to share!

The regular Greeno's falsa juice was for 240. Saydyz gave half a litre of sorbet for Rs500 but their shipping made the total 850 (which is way too much if you ask me) and Zee's half a dozen kulfi was for Rs750 and Rs900 with delivery.


'Weekend grub' is a weekly column published on Friday that features new cafes and restaurants across Pakistan. Can you think of an eatery that should be reviewed? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

Comments

Jibboo May 27, 2016 03:19pm
I don't know what Falsa is, but from the photo, looks like small plums. Plums and dairy do not mix: Hence, no milk-based kulfi---only, water based Sorbets would make sense.
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VIJAY May 27, 2016 03:44pm
So refreshing and mouth watering !
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Apache May 27, 2016 03:45pm
Or you can but Falsas for Rs.50. Make falsa juice. Freeze for some hours and enjoy
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Angry May 27, 2016 03:57pm
yummmm I want some falsa sorbet - why is it so expensive
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Adnan May 27, 2016 04:19pm
I am die-hard Falsa fan; totally agree with your comments. Was in Karachi last week and made sure to consume at least 1 kg in 3 days!!!. Seems there are Not a lot more Falsa fans. A question what is Falsa called in English?
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Hamid (USA) May 27, 2016 04:52pm
I am lucky to find and plant a Falsa tree in my backyard here in Houston. Tree is full of fruit. It is not ready yet but may be in June or July.
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Sikander Hasan May 27, 2016 05:32pm
@Adnan Falsa is Blackcurrant in english
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Zubair May 27, 2016 05:46pm
@Adnan grewia asiatica
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Zubair May 27, 2016 05:46pm
Grewia asiatica
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Ankush.shinghal@ritz.edu May 27, 2016 06:34pm
@Hamid (USA) Dear Hamid, If I am in Houston in summer, I will visit you. Ankush 0061 410 970 410
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Exlim May 27, 2016 07:44pm
Nice article. i assume all these falsa products are available only in Pakistan. Falsa berries are not available in US stores but I know people have successfully cultivated these berries in their backyards. Its a very hardy plant and easy to grow,
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Exlim May 27, 2016 07:45pm
@Adnan 'Falsa Berry'
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Khalid Toronto May 27, 2016 07:50pm
Falsa is one of the things that I miss about Pakistan the most.
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Ali May 27, 2016 08:40pm
@Hamid (USA) I am in Houston too, and dieing to try some falsa's. How did you plant it?
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Khalid ( UK) May 27, 2016 10:19pm
Was visiting Karachi last week, tried the "amazing Falsa drink, loved it absolutely! Green Mango drink was equally as good! and just in time for the start of the mango season! what a week of "discovery!! ..back to UK.. its still feels like "winter"
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SKZ May 28, 2016 01:57am
@Hamid (USA) Great job... Kudos to you. I live in Chicago... cannot grow here because of the weather..
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Striker May 28, 2016 03:47am
Dont miss any thing more than Falsa season. Used to have em evey day for as long as the season lasted.
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MUHAMMED ASIM RAO May 28, 2016 08:24am
I love this fruit. Living outside of Pak - i for sure miss it. But any visit to Pak during its season - i eat (or drink) heart full of it. Like blue berries or other berries - Pakistan should promote it / market it - even out of Pakistan
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asim May 28, 2016 09:34am
@Hamid (USA) can you please help me get a tree in NJ
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Parveen Sadiq May 30, 2016 01:49am
My God,i miss Falsa.This picture and description of Falsa sorbet,drove me crazy.I find all the fruits here but no Falsa any where.
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Parveen Sadiq May 30, 2016 01:54am
@Hamid (USA) I am in Houston,can you share some with me.You don't know how much i crave for Falsa.Pl. send me an email if you can.Thanks.
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SKZ May 24, 2018 10:16am
Let me recommend something. In US yogurts are sold with different berries , strawberry, Blueberry, cherry etc. in the bottom . You open it and mix the contents and you get a nice tasty flavored yogurt. If I was in Pakistan , I would try that with falsa in right quantity with yogurt and also with seeds or without seeds.
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Zulfiqar May 24, 2018 10:17am
@Khalid Toronto you can get a bucket of freshly imported false and jamun in Toronto also. Iqbal foods I’m thorncliffe and Fatima grocers in Mississauga
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MyHeartSpeaks May 24, 2018 10:18am
where to get falsa in Islamabad?
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Zulfiqar May 24, 2018 10:18am
@Parveen Sadiq Iqbal foods in thorncliffe and Fatima grocers in Mississauga. I had lots last year
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Fuzail Z. Ahmad May 24, 2018 10:24am
The best thing done at our home is mashing the falsas, adding some sugar and salt. There you go!
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SMK May 24, 2018 11:05am
Saydyz is a rip off, so is Zee's 'fake' kulfi... its not even kulfi ..... where's the 'khoya' in it?
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mohsin May 24, 2018 11:39am
@Jibboo . It could be a type of cranberry. Taste is more or less the same.
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Ali Inc May 24, 2018 02:49pm
khattay meethay Faalsay Sharbat waalay Faalsay O miss them here in the Gulf
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Osman May 24, 2018 03:26pm
I drink falsa juice
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Vijay B. May 24, 2018 10:42pm
Any idea what falsas sell for by the pound or kilo in Pakistan or India? Yes living away from home we miss these things: not only falsa, but also paban (lotus nuts), chikoo, sitafal, baer, singara, real small and fresh, tart kachi keri etc. Oh well "bachpan ke din bhi kya din the."
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Vijay B. May 24, 2018 10:46pm
As I remember ripe falsas have a very short shelf life, The ones available in Toronto must be grown in very southern US or Mexico etc. Blessed is the guy who has them growing in his backyard in Houston.
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Vijay B. May 24, 2018 11:09pm
@mohsin Are you kidding? Falsas do not taste anything like cranberries which incidentally grow in bogs. Falsas grow on ground and in places with hot summers.
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Anas May 25, 2018 05:42pm
This is where you would want to be in Lahore for falsa season.... You can buy 170-200 rupees per kg nowadays!!! A good juice corner sells a falsa juice mug for Rs. 50 only!! Since I was a kid, I've loved this "khatta meetha" fruit. Falsa juice is extremely good for liver n kidneys.
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Anas May 25, 2018 05:52pm
@Vijay B. You can get them at Rs. 200 per kg in Lahore (Pakistan)
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محمدارشدعمران بھٹی May 27, 2018 11:26pm
فالسہ ایک بہترین غذاہے،یہ موسم گرما کی سوغات ہے،یہ ذائقہ میں کٹھامٹھاہےاورسردترہےاسکےاستعمال سےمعدہ اورجگرکی گرمی سےنجات مل جاتی ہے،اگراس کا انہارمنہ ایک گلاس جوس پیاجائے تو چندروز میں جگرکی گرمی سےمستقل نجات مل سکتی ہے
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Ali May 10, 2019 07:55am
If only they were available in London, get every fruit here except for falsa. Miss this fruit immensely.
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Amir Iqbal May 10, 2019 08:53am
@Sikander Hasan blackcurrant is not falsa
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Safir Ahmad Siddiqui May 10, 2019 12:28pm
Falsa is so sour,no way to get it sweetened.And so I ignore it from a distance.Go for good chiko.Water melon,Sweet melon or Honey Dew rules out Falsa.Ripe Guava’s smell is enticing. But King of Fruits is on the way.Wait.
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Arif May 10, 2019 02:39pm
In Dubai from last 2 years and missed it both seasons. Really wish that we make products out of it and export it to markets with large PK population.
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RASHEED I SHAIKH May 10, 2019 10:58pm
if you don't know falsa, you don't know anything. u should try
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kautiliya May 11, 2019 09:52am
It is called blue berries
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Syed Hafeez Imran May 15, 2019 10:34pm
@Zulfiqar many other "Desi" shops too , like Apna Farm in Mississauga
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Syed Hafeez Imran May 15, 2019 10:41pm
@Vijay B. They are imported from Pakistan. yes the whole season is very short it is called Grewia Asiatica,
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