Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) is a herb traditionally used in Ayurveda. Its name comes from the Sanskrit word Amalaka, and it is also known as Indian gooseberry. This tropical tree grows 3-26ft high and produces small fruit that are light greenish-yellow, smooth and hard, with six vertical stripes. Amla fruit tastes sour, bitter and astringent.

Highly nutritious and one of the most concentrated sources of vitamin C in the plant kingdom, amla is also high in dietary fiber, iron, chromium, zinc and copper. It is rich in ellagitannins as well as other polyphenols such as flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid and gallic acid.*