Sapotilla

Sapotilla

  • +Description

    Sapotillas grow in trees which can be up till 35 metres long. Each fruit is a berry, round or oval in shape and about 10 cm in diameter. Each tree bears as many as 2000 fruits per year. The fruit is brown in color with a sandy, potato like skin. The flesh is white with sticky latex. This latex disappears once the fruit ripens and the flesh turns brown. The sweet flesh has a grainy texture and contains black, shiny, inedible seeds in the center. The flavor of sapotilla can best be described as a pear that has been soaked in brown sugar.

  • +Availability

    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
                Available Available Available      

    Sapotillas are available from Thailand and India.

  • +Main nutrients

    Calcium, Fiber and Vitamin C.

Main varieties

  • Sapotilla

    Sapotilla

    The fruit is brown in color with a sandy, potato like skin. The flesh is white with sticky latex. This latex disappears once the fruit ripens and the flesh turns brown.

    View Sapotilla

Preparation

Preparation

Cut the fruit vertically into two halves. From here, either cut the halves into watermelon-like slices, or scoop out the two white fleshy halves with a tablespoon. The skin is not eaten. Most sapotilla fruit contains seeds, and these should really be removed before consumption. The seeds have a small hook that can catch in the throat and cause choking. Commonly these seeds are large, noticeable and easy to remove when the fruit is cut in half.

Consumption

The flesh, which is commonly eaten raw, is very sweet. It is generally recommended that sapotilla is eaten chilled. The sweet grainy texture and flavour makes it a favourite ingredient in salads, desserts and pies. The fruit can also be converted into juice and is a great ingredient for smoothies and sauces.

When to eat

Sapotilla is ripe when it gives a little bit, when pressing into the fruit. Unripe sapotillas can easily be ripened at room temperature. When ripe, keep refrigerated and consume within a few days.

Did you know?

  • Sapotilla is also known as ‘Chikoo’ and ‘Chiku’.
  • The latex of the sapotilla is a key ingredient of gum.
  • The latex is used in the tropics as a crude filling for tooth cavities
 

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