My daughter recently found this unique fruit in our local Asian grocery store. It was one of those exotic fruits that were on my bucket list to try. It reminded me of Persimmon, Mangosteen, and star apple fruit. 

I started doing research and although there isn’t much-documented information online about it, I wanted to share what I found with you.

It is grown and harvested in South Florida in abundance. The white pulp of the unripe black sapote fruit is bitter, acidic, and irritating. However, the black velvet flesh when ripen is sweet with a smooth chocolate flavor. 

black sapote cut open

The Origins of Black Sapote

The black sapote fruit is the ancient species of persimmon. It is native to Mexico, Colombia, and Central America, famous for its delectable chocolate pudding flavor.

The fruit is known by different names

Every fruit has different names in different cultures, so the fruit also has various names such as; chocolate pudding fruit, black soap apple, etc.

It is also called black persimmon, axle grease plant, Ebano, Guayabote. Mueque, Sapote Negro. Black sapote is also a Spanish word for “Soft fruit,” and Spanish people mostly say the fruit as “Zapote Prieto”

The Black Sapote Nutiton

Black sapote fruit is not a common fruit, as it maintains blood pressure and the immune system. It. is easy to buy and search for now.

It is tasteful and beneficial for human health as the fruit has a rich vitamin C source, 100 gram serving of the fruit contains 19 mg of Vitamin C, 39 mg of Calcium.

The black sapote fruit is not harmful and poisonous as well as prevents hair fall. However, its fame among fruit lovers is still growing.

The Black Sapote Tree

The evergreen tree can take up to five years before a black sapote tree is mature enough to produce fruit.  The plant is not fully tropical, if protected from frost for the first few years, it has a chance to serve colder weather. The black sapote fruits are ready to collect when the skins have turned from glossy green to dull, muddy green.

The trees can grow up to 40 feet tall in outdoor environments. People try to grow the tree in the cold regions as a household plant. It is often grown as a potted plant by the sapote fruit lovers.

 

Black sapote cut open

Black Sapote Taste

Sapote is eaten raw or cooked when ripened. The unripe fruit is very bitter and toxic enough to use as a fish poison in some cultures. Black sapote skin is fragile and benign so that you can bite in like an apple.

The ripened pulp is dark brown or black in color, it is soft and mushy, I basically use a knife to cut around the middle or into wedges. The black seeds are removed, then spoon the soft flesh out and enjoy. It is sweet, rich in flavor, and enjoyable fruit.  The caramel, honey, date, and mineral tones are definitely present.

The pulp is usually added to muffins, chocolate cake, and bread to add moisture and enhance the flavor.

The unripened fruit is boiled and cooked as a vegetable.

black sapote cut into half showing seed and pulp

Where to buy the black sapote?

The black sapote fruit is famous now, and people are discussing it in beneficial fruit subdomains. You don’t need to think about where to buy this fantastic fruit.

It is not hard to find this lovely and pleasing fruit anywhere. We recently bought it here at our local Chinese store, my cousin found it in New York. 

black sapote fruit on a white plate

Other Fruits To Read About

  1. Tuna Fruit
  2. Florida Pomelo
  3. Naseberry/Sapodilla
  4. Papaya
  5. Loquat Fruit
  6. Ground Cherries
  7. Key Lime
  8. Seville Orange
  9. Guinep
  10. Golden Kiwi
  11. Egg Fruit

 

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