Luvikka / Lovlolika (Sweet, Layer) Fruit Plant

Indian Coffee Plum (Flacourtia jangomas) is a lowland and mountain rainforest tree belonging to the willow family (Salicaceae). It is widely cultivated across Southeast and East Asia and has also naturalized in several regions beyond its native range, which is believed to be tropical Asia, most likely India. In Southern India, especially Kerala, it is commonly known as Luvika or Lovlolika and holds notable culinary and traditional medicinal value.

This plant is a small, deciduous shrub or tree that typically grows between 6–10 meters in height. Young trees often bear simple or branched woody thorns, which may reduce or disappear as the tree matures. The bark is light brown to copper-red with a flaky texture, while the leaves are light green and narrow-ovate. The tree produces small, fragrant whitish-green flowers, followed by round fruits that turn pink to dark red when ripe, measuring about one inch in diameter.

The fruits are juicy and commonly consumed across South Asia, both raw and cooked. They are known for their mildly sour, tangy flavor and are widely used in pickles, salt-dried preparations, Indian curries, juices, jams, and marmalades. Coffee plum-based preserves are especially popular in Southern India and are also exported internationally from Kerala. The plant is additionally valued for its timber and is considered a host plant for the Queensland fruit fly.

Fruiting typically occurs 100–110 days after fruit set, with full ripening around 120 days when fruits become soft and dark red, maroon, or purple. Harvesting is usually done in 2–3 pickings, with each plant yielding approximately 3–5 kg of fruit.