Ramphal, Sitaphal and Lakshman Phal: The confusing fruit trio explained

Walk through any fruit market in India and you will hear at least one confused shopper ask, “Is this sitaphal or ramphal?” The shopkeeper will lift a fruit, tap it knowingly and say something confidently. You will nod even if you understood nothing. Because let’s be honest. These three fruits look like cousins who dress alike just to mess with the family.

Here is the simple truth. Sitaphal, Ramphal and Lakshman phal belong to the same Annona family, but they are completely different characters on your plate.

Sitaphal: The crowd favourite
Sitaphal is the one everyone knows. It is the custard apple with the scaly green skin and the sweet, grainy flesh that falls apart if you try to be fancy with it. It tastes like nature’s own ice cream. Kids love it. Grandparents love it. Anyone with a sweet tooth loves it.

Its proper name is custard apple or sugar apple and the scientific one is Annona squamosa. But honestly, nobody uses these names unless they want to sound impressive at a dinner table.

Ramphal: The quieter treat
Ramphal feels like sitaphal’s calmer partner. Similar at first glance, but with a more mellow personality once you taste it. The skin is smoother or netted, not scaly. The flavour is gentle and creamy. Sometimes the flesh is pale; sometimes it has a light blush of pink. It is less sugary and more pudding-like.

This fruit is Annona reticulata and also goes by the name bullock’s heart. Why it is called that is best left unexplained while eating.

Lakshman Phal: The tropical dream
Lakshman phal needs no introduction once you see it. It is big, has soft spikes and looks like it rolled straight out of a rainforest adventure movie. This is soursop, or Annona muricata. It has a sour-sweet flavour that makes it perfect for juices, smoothies and summer desserts.

In Kerala markets, it often shows up as mullaatha, usually promoted as a “health fruit”. Whether you believe the health claims or not, its flavour is enough reason to try it.

So what should you buy?

• If you want something sweet and comforting, pick sitaphal.
• If you want something mellow and creamy, go for ramphal.
• If you want a bold tropical flavour, lakshman phal is the one.

All three are seasonal pleasures that deserve a spot in every fruit bowl. The next time someone in the market asks, “Which one is this?”, you can finally answer without guessing.