Borassus flabellifer, doub palm, palmyra palm, tala or tal palm, toddy palm, wine palm or ice apple

Borassus flabellifer is a robust tree and can reach a height of 30 metres (98 ft). The trunk is grey, robust and ringed with leaf scars; old leaves remain attached to the trunk for several years before falling cleanly. The leaves are fan-shaped and 3 m (9.8 ft) long, with robust black teeth on the petiole margins. Like all Borassus species, B. flabellifer is dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants. The male flowers are less than 1 cm long and form semi-circular clusters, which are hidden beneath scale-like bracts within the catkin-like inflorescences. In contrast, the female flowers are golfball-sized and solitary, sitting upon the surface of the inflorescence axis. After pollination, these blooms develop into fleshy fruits 15–25 cm wide, each containing 1-3 seeds. The fruits are black to brown with sweet, fibrous pulp and each seed is enclosed within a woody endocarp. Young palmyra seedlings grow slowly, producing only a few leaves each year (establishment phase),. The top portion of the fruit must be cut off to reveal the sweet jelly seed sockets, translucent pale-white, similar to that of the lychee but with a milder flavor and no pit. The sweet jelly seed sockets occur in combinations of two, three or four seeds inside the fruit. The jelly part of the fruit is covered with a thin, yellowish-brown skin. These are known to contain watery fluid inside the fleshy white body. These seed sockets have been the inspiration behind certain sandeshes called jalbhora (জলভরা) found in Bengal. The soft orange-yellow mesocarp pulp of the ripe fruit is sugary, dense and edible, rich in vitamins A and C.[citation needed] They also contain bitter compound called flabelliferrins, which are steroidal saponins.

When this happens, the fruit takes a purple-blackish hue and tastes similar to coconut flesh. The skin is also eaten as part of the fruit similar to how mango skins are often consumed along with the fruit. Bengalis have perfected the art of making various sweet dishes with the yellowish viscous fluid substance obtained from a ripe palm fruit. These include mustard oil-fried (alternately sunflower oil-fried) taal-er bora (তালের বড়া) "palmyra vadas" or mixed with thickened milk to prepare taal-kheer (তাল ক্ষীর).

In Kerala it is called nonku (നൊങ്ക്) whereas in Tamil Nadu, it is called nungu (நுங்கு). In Odisha, it is called tala (ତାଳ). Ice apple in Indonesia is called buah lontar or siwalan.In Karnataka it is called "Taati Nungu"(ತಾಟಿ ನುಂಗು / ತಾಟಿ ನಿಂಗು). In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, this fruit is called as "Thaati Munjalu" (తాటి ముంజలు)

Weight Loss:

One of the most fascinating benefits of Ice apple or munjal (tadgola) is that the fruit aids in getting rid of extra pounds from your body. It contains a lot of water which aids to keep your tummy full and aids in weight loss naturally.
Nausea:

Ice Apple or Munjal (Tadgola) is beneficial in relieving the feeling of nausea. It is in fact one of the best benefits of Ice apple.
During Pregnancy:

There are also some wonderful benefits of ice apple or Munjal(Tadgola) to pregnant women. Ice Apple helps in improving digestion and aids with constipation and acidity problems which actually are common symptoms during pregnancy.
Prevents Heat Stroke:

You can keep away the heat strokes by adding ice apple or munjal (tadgola) to your daily diet. It contains lots of water and thus keeps the body hydrated and prevents heat stroke.

Keeps Away the Stomach Ailments:

The best health benefits of Ice Apple or Munjal (Tadgola) is that it works as a natural cure for several stomach ailments.

1 Digestion Problems:

Ice Apple or Munjal (Tadgola) is often used in ancestral therapy for curing digestion problems. You can eat a lot of this fruit and derive its benefits in keeping away from all the digestion problems.

3. Treats Liver Problems:

One of the major health benefits of Ice Apple or Munjal (Tadgola) is that it slowly gets rid of several liver problems as it cleanses out the toxins with the rich amount of potassium present in it.

4 Reduces Prickly Heat Pimples:

Ice apple or Munjal (Tadgola) aids in cooling the body during summer season and provides relief from the prickly heat pimples.
5. Breast Cancer:

Ice apples or Munjal (Tadgola) designate the existence of the phytochemicals anthocyanin which may inhibit the growth of tumors and breast cancer cells. So, this is one more benefits of the fruit.
6. Enhances Energy:

The best health benefits of Ice apple or Munjal is that it keeps the glucose levels high and provides the right balance of minerals and nutrients to the body.