Combava Powder - Madagascar

WHAT IS COMBAVA?

The combava (Mauritius Papeda) is also known as combawa. It is a citrus fruit with an appearance similar to bergamot and lime, with a bumpy rind and a diameter between 4 and 6 mm. The fruit is native to Sumbawa Island (an Indonesian island east of Bali in the Moluccan Sea) and grows on a tree with small leaves and thorny branches bearing the same name.

Combawa is the name of the tree and its fruit. The tree is a thorn with a lumpy bark. It is a wild plant that is now cultivated. The fruit, like the leaves of the combava, is rich in essential oil with a scent close to that of lemongrass.

On the taste side, combava has a slightly more acidic flavour than lime. You can eat its leaves and zest. The flesh of combava, for its part, is little used. However, it can be used to add a touch of acidity to dishes.

Did you know that? Combava : A star condiment in Creole and Asian cuisine, combava was a citrus fruit that was still unknown in Europe about ten years ago. Since then, great names such as the Briton, Jamie Oliver, have begun to work on it and to introduce it to the general public.

The combava harvest

The combava is a citrus fruit cultivated in Southeast Asia (Thailand, India...), but also on the island of Reunion and Madagascar. The harvest period is in March and April, when the fruit still has a dark green colour.

David Vanille's choice: I wanted you to discover the tangy and bitter taste of the combava from Madagascar. Still too little used, it nevertheless brings a contemporary touch to our traditional recipes. This combava powder will seduce you with its intense taste.

The different varieties of small lemons

The combava is one of the little lemons less known than the yellow lemon. It belongs to the rutaceae family as well as :

- · Lime (lime): A lemon native to Asia, fruit of the lime tree. There are two varieties: the small ones of Mexican and Caribbean origin and the big ones called Tahiti, Persian Lime or Bears.

-· Yuzu: a Japanese lemon with a delicate scent

- · The kalamansi: a small sour lime

- · The limequat: a cross between lime and kumquat

- · The bergamot: a citrus fruit resulting from a hybrid form between the lemon tree and the bitter orange tree

The origins of Combava

Combava is an Indonesian citrus fruit. Its name was given to it by western sailors, in reference to the Indonesian island of Sumbawa east of Bali in the Moluccas archipelago. It was in the 18th century that Pierre Poivre, the great French botanist, introduced it to Mauritius before having it integrated into the Botanical Garden of Montpellier. We also find it in 1924, under its former English name "Kaffir lime". This name, considered inappropriate - it means "lemon of the miscreant" - is now unusual.

Did you know that? In 1824, a Swiss botanist, Auguste Pyrame de Candolle, gave the combava its vernacular name: Mauritius papeda.

Other uses of combava

The combava has therapeutic virtues. It has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine to treat lung and stomach ailments.

- · The other benefits of combawa are:

- · High vitamin C content

- · Strong antioxidant capacity

- · An action on the reduction of paracetamol hepatotoxicity

- · Tonic virtues

- · A sedative effect to reduce stress, insomnia and chronic fatigue.

How to use combava powder in the kitchen?

Combava can be eaten fresh as a citrus fruit or in powder form. Fresh, the leaves, peel and, more rarely, the flesh are eaten.

I propose you to discover the zest of this citrus fruit in the form of a pastel yellow combava powder, which will allow you a precise dosage when you will integrate it into your preparations.

Don't be fooled by the softness evoked by the colour of this powder, as its organoleptic power will seize you as soon as you open the fresh sachet.

The first aromatic evocation that you will receive when you smell the Combava powder will certainly be that of lemongrass with a rather sweet herbaceous freshness.

On the palate, you will find notes of lemongrass as well as new sensations such as this bitterness strongly reminiscent of the flavours of yuzu combined with those of ginger and coriander.

Combava is used almost daily in Asian and Creole cuisine in order to rebalance dishes with very spicy flavours. But you have to be very careful with the dosage of this condiment so that its rich aromas do not extinguish those of the ingredients it is intended to enhance.

Discover the different ways to use this citrus powder that will certainly not leave you indifferent.

Our recipe ideas with Combava

A star condiment of the Indian Ocean, the combava allows us to revisit our traditional cuisine. It is used in particular for :

1. Season meat, fish and shellfish: Creole carrys, samoussas, Reunionese charcuterie, sweet and sour sauce... Combava will enhance your white meats, chard, turnips or even pigeon Anne-Sophie Pic style.
2. Energize vegetables and starchy foods: summer salad, feta bean salad, pan-fried vegetables, soups... Ideally, you will not associate it with aromatic herbs or vegetable spices.
3. Sublimate your desserts: fruit salad, chocolate fondant, pound cake... Combava brings a tangy touch to your classic desserts, such as Chef Arnaud Donckele's apple and rhubarb soufflé.

The starter : Tomatoes with combava powder

This side salad can also be enjoyed as a light and tasty cold starter. Cut tomatoes. You can choose old varieties or kumato tomatoes. Slice an onion and 1 small red pepper. Salt and add ¼ a teaspoon of combava powder and a little garlic powder. Serve chilled with warm country bread or Turkish bread.

The dish: Risotto with shrimps and coconut milk with combava

In this Creole flavoured risotto, the combava powder adds a tangy note that goes perfectly with coconut. Make a creamy risotto with 25 cl of coconut milk. Cook your prawns on a grill and add a little garlic. Add half a spoonful of combava powder at the end of your risotto. Serve hot with a good dry white wine.

Dessert: Strawberry waffles with combava

And here is a fruity dessert to which the combava brings a certain modernity. Make waffles and let them cool. Add a little whipped cream and quartered strawberries and sprinkle with a little palpable sugar and combava powder.

How to store the combava powder?

Combava powder is a flavouring that can be stored in a dry place away from the light. Store it in an airtight jar so that it retains all its flavour for a long time.