ABSTRACT
Amla or Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn or Phyllanthus emblica L.) is a deciduous tree that commonly grows in several Asian countries such as in the tropical and subtropical parts of India and a few Asian countries as well. Amla tree can grow on soils having low fertility and with a little precipitation. Amla fruit is known for being one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C (600–700 mg/100 g) and the fruit can be processed into a variety of value-added products, such as pickles, jam, preserve (Murabba) in thick sugar syrup, candy, powder, and juice or beverages. Amla can be called a health capsule as it is rich not only in ascorbic acid but also in polyphenolic compounds, tannins, and pectin. In this chapter, agronomic practices, chemical composition, nutritional contributions, medicinal uses, and various processed products from amla fruits and other parts of the amla tree will be discussed.
