Santol: A Delicious Fruit from Lopburi

Lopburi isn't just known for its monkeys 🙉 but also for the delicious santol fruit that’s absolutely amazing 😎. Santol is a popular fruit that has brought fame to Lopburi province. You can enjoy it fresh or use it in various dishes, such as salads, spicy dips, sweet preserves, or even cooling desserts.

Currently, Lopburi is hosting the 30th annual Sweet Santol and Lopburi’s Best Festival from 23 June to 5 July 2023 in front of the Lopburi City Hall. If you're a fan of santol, don't miss it! But before you go shopping for santol, let's explore which santol varieties are the most delicious and what you should absolutely avoid when eating santol. Let's find out with Muang Thai Life Assurance!

If you want juicy santol, Lopburi is the place to offer, especially in three sub-districts of Lopburi City: Pho Khao Ton, Talung, and Ngiew Rai, which are known for producing the best santol in the province. What's even more impressive is that Lopburi's santol is considered the best-tasting in the world, with three main varieties: Puifai, Thapthim, and Ila. Each variety has its unique characteristics:

• Puifai: Sweet, with a soft peel and fluffy pulp, making it the most popular variety.
• Thapthim: Smaller than other varieties, but its sweet taste makes it a favorite.
• Ila: A highly demanded and expensive variety, with large fruits weighing about 1.5 kg, dense flesh, and a slightly astringent and tangy taste. If it's a giant Ila, it will be sweet and soft.
  

Sources: dailynews ,ตลาดเกษตรกรออนไลน์ , KU

Santol is a fruit that needs to be bruised before eating—really? Many people wonder why it needs to be bruised first and if it really makes it sweeter. Some speculate that bruising separates the pulp from the seeds, making it easier to eat, or that the outer flesh of santol is astringent while the seeds are sweet. Bruising could break the cells, allowing the sweetness from the seeds to spread throughout the flesh, making it sweeter.

However, no research or experiments have proven that bruising makes it sweeter. But for certain dishes like santol in syrup, bruising is an important step to loosen the seeds from the flesh, making it easier to handle. When eating it fresh, it depends on personal preference—so if you want to bruise it, go ahead!

Sources: Mahidol University ,krua

In addition to the flesh, the santol seeds are also sweet and enjoyable to nibble on. But no matter how tempting, be careful not to swallow them! Santol seeds can cause intestinal perforation and pose a choking hazard, especially for the elderly who have no teeth. 

The reason santol seeds can cause intestinal perforation is that they are large, slender, pointed at both ends, and very hard. If a santol seed enters the digestive system, it may perforate or tear the intestines, causing waste matter to leak into the abdominal cavity, leading to severe infection that can result in death.

ที่มา : amarintv (data as of 29/05/2020), thethaiger (data as of 09/06/2022)

So, for those who love eating santol, after knowing this, consider visiting Lopburi, the land of santol, at least once. Besides being a famous fruit of Lopburi, santol also has many health benefits, including lowering cholesterol, boosting the immune system, preventing colon cancer, and protecting against tooth decay.

When choosing fruits that are beneficial for your health, don't forget to take care of other aspects of your health as well. Exercise regularly, eat healthy food, wash your hands often, and wear a mask when in crowded places, because diseases aren't as far away as you might think.

Having health insurance before you get sick can also provide peace of mind. Whether you face a minor or major illness, or frequent ailments, #MuangThaiLifeAssurance understands people in every area and allows you to choose health coverage or critical illness insurance that meets your needs, giving everyone more peace of mind with customizable plans. No matter the season or where you are, we’ve got you covered nationwide with comprehensive coverage for cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, critical illness, general illness, and accidents. Choose health insurance with coverage plans ranging from 200,000 to 100,000,000 Baht. The entry age is up to 90 years*, and coverage period is up to the age of 99*.

Worried about critical illness? Choose critical illness insurance. If diagnosed, receive a lump sum for medical treatment or other personal needs. Low premiums, high coverage. 

For more information, click.

☑️ Call Tel. 1766, available 24/7.
☑️ Contact life insurance agents or Kasikornbank branches nationwide.

Purchase today for 6-month installments with 0% interest or cashback up to 13%.

* Elite Health Plus Rider and D Health Plus Rider

- Coverage period of the rider must not exceed the coverage period of the life insurance policy that this rider is attached to.

- Premium is eligible for tax deduction. Conditions are as specified by the Revenue Department.

- Underwriting is subject to the Company’s rules.

- Conditions are as specified by Muang Thai Life Assurance PCL and the Bank.

- Conditions are in accordance with medical necessity and medical standard.

- Please study details of coverage, conditions and exclusions before making a decision to purchase insurance.