The fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree (Phyllanthus emblica), also called amla, used in traditional medicine and cooking.
From Sanskrit 'amalaka' (sour fruit), the original name for the Indian gooseberry. The word spread through Hindi and other Indian languages into English with increasing interest in Ayurvedic medicine.
The amalaka fruit is absolutely packed with vitamin C—more than oranges—yet it stayed relatively unknown outside India until wellness and Ayurvedic medicine became trendy in the West, making this ancient word suddenly modern.
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