The name certainly sounds exotic, but Sri Lankans of all ages, are more than familiar with the cooking ingredient Goraka. This humble condiment famous for its acidic and tenderizing properties is now known throughout the world by its more exotic botanical name – Garcinia Cambogia. More importantly, nutritional supplements containing Garcinia cambogia extract have become the rage, touted for their purported ability to curb appetite and stop weight gain.

Goraka, in its raw form has the most wonderful orange colour. Not unlike the shade of a persimmon the fruit Garcinia cambogia is the less popular cousin of the more revered Mangosteen. The fruit is as big as an apple, and deeply ridged. In some trees it is yellow, in others red. In its fresh from, Goraka is pretty much useless. Extremely sour, if eaten, it would coat a tongue with a wax that tastes unpleasant. The fruits are picked, and dried in the sun. The once-beautiful orange colour turns to a blackish-brown. It is not attractive to look at wrinkled, leathery, squishy and with a slightly putrid smell. However, once added to a curry, it gives out the most delicious and subtle tang.