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Kaitha Powder — Wood Apple, Stone-Ground in Banda
50g jar · about 25 servings
₹ 249
- 100% wood apple fruit pulp (Limonia acidissima / kaitha / kavath) — single ingredient
- Sun-dried and stone-ground in Banda, Uttar Pradesh
- No preservatives, no fillers, no added sugar
- 50g jar — roughly 25 servings
- Earthy, tangy, deeply distinctive flavour
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The story of Kaitha
Kaitha (also called kavath in Marathi, kothbel in Bengali, velam in Tamil) is one of India's oldest forgotten fruits. The wood apple has a hard, woody shell and a strong, distinctive pulp inside — sweet-sour, deeply earthy, instantly recognisable. It grows on trees that have been in Indian villages for so long, no one remembers planting them.
In Banda and across Bundelkhand, the wood apple was the kitchen-shelf remedy. Stomach feeling off? Kaitha. Just had a heavy meal? Kaitha. Children unsettled in the rains? Kaitha. It went into chutneys, into morning drinks, into Ayurvedic preparations.
Then, somewhere along the way, modern food forgot about it. We didn't. Our Kaitha Powder is the same wood apple our grandmothers used, prepared the same way — sun-dried, stone-ground, sealed in a jar.
What's inside, what's not
Single-ingredient, honestly labelled.
What's inside
- 100% wood apple fruit pulp (Limonia acidissima), sourced from family farms in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh.
What's NOT inside
- No preservatives
- No artificial colours or flavours
- No added sugar
- No fillers
- No anti-caking agents
- No gluten
How Kaitha has traditionally been used
A part of Indian kitchens and Ayurvedic tradition for generations.
Traditionally taken for digestion
Wood apple has been used in Indian households as a digestive food for generations — particularly after heavy meals.
Gentle on the gut
The pulp is naturally rich in fibre, which traditionally is associated with gut wellness.
A part of Ayurvedic tradition
In Ayurveda, kaitha is associated with supporting digestive balance.
Distinctive, unforgettable flavour
Once you've had real wood apple, no other fruit tastes quite the same.
Kaitha Powder is a food product, not a medicine. Traditional uses described above have not been evaluated by FSSAI for medicinal claims. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor before adding any new food to your diet, especially if pregnant, nursing, or on medication.
Three ways to bring Kaitha into your day
01
The morning warm-water drink
½ to 1 tsp Kaitha Powder + 1 glass warm water + a small piece of gud (jaggery), if you like it sweeter. Stir, drink slowly first thing in the morning.
02
Stirred into chutneys
Add a teaspoon of Kaitha Powder to a green or tamarind chutney for a deeper, more rounded tang. Pairs especially well with mint and coriander.
03
In buttermilk
Whisk 1 tsp into a glass of cold chaas with cumin and salt. Drink at lunch on a hot day.
Where it comes from
Our Kaitha comes from wood apple trees in Banda district, mostly old, mostly growing where they've grown for as long as anyone can remember. We collect the fruit when it ripens, dry the pulp under open sun, and grind it on stone in our own kitchen. Nothing leaves Banda before it's a finished jar.
Common questions
Tangy, sweet-sour, deeply earthy. The first taste is unfamiliar to most modern palates; by the third or fourth time, most people are hooked.
Same fruit, different format. Kaitha Powder is finely ground for quick mixing into water, food, or drinks. Kaitha Guda is the dried pulp in chunky form — closer to the traditional preparation, ideal if you prefer to soak and mash, or use it in regional recipes.
About a month, used at ½–1 tsp per day.
Cool, dry, away from sunlight. In humid weather, transfer to an airtight container.
Best within 9 months from manufacture (printed on jar).
Kaitha is a traditional food. Indian families have given small amounts to children for generations. As always with new foods during pregnancy or for very young children, please check with your doctor.
We aim for fine — the stone-grinding gives a soft, slightly sandy texture, similar to fine atta. It dissolves easily in warm water.
1–2 working days from Banda. See our Shipping Policy.
