Mysuru: With city experiencing hot summer month, to get hydrated, people often go for water-rich fruits. Falling in line in that category is Toddy Palm or Ice Apple (Thatiningu) of Tamil Nadu origin. Push carts selling the Ice Apples are a common sight on roads in city now.

Ice Apple popularly known as poor man’s tender coconut is not just meant to quench the thirst but has a good solid content to fill the stomach too with good nutrition value.

Ice Apples are usually grown in Salem and Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu with yield in Summer months.

The tree is very robust and can reach a height of about 30 meters. The fleshy fruit looks like a small tender coconut and coloured brown to black. Each fruit contains one to three seeds each enclosed in a wood-like cover. The seeds should be taken out like those from a jack fruit, cover removed and eaten.

About 50 people are selling the Ice Apple in city mostly near Fountain Circle, near Palace, in front of Law Courts, near Crawford Hall, in extensions and other places. The vendors say that they sell from 10 am to 9 pm grossing Rs.100 to Rs.2,000 a day from each cart with  Rs.30 a fruit.