Produce Briefs...
Mangosteen
The Purple mangosteen, botanical name Garcinia magostana, simply referred to as mangosteen, is an ultra-tropical slow growing evergreen tree that is cultivated for its edible fruit.
White Corn
White corn is a sweet corn variety. Its ears are wrapped in tightly layered pale lime green to white husks. One ear of corn can contain up to 400 kernels growing in rows lengthwise.
Seasons/Availability
The Black Sapote is available from August to February, in the warmer equatorial climates, and from December to March in Florida.
Current Facts
The Black Sapote is not a part of the sapota family as the name suggests; it is instead related to the persimmon (Ebenaceae). Outside of its native regions, the sapote negro has not gained much popularity, despite it being one of the few fruits available during the winter months.
Description/Taste
The Black Sapote, or Black persimmon in Hawaii, is widely known as the “chocolate pudding fruit.” It is a round, squat fruit that looks similar to a tomato with a persimmon-like leaf cluster at the top. The rind is initially olive green in color and becomes darker as it ripens. The flesh within is white when unripe and grows to a dark brown or black color when ripe. It has a sweet, custardy, chocolate-like flavor, which is how it got its nickname. The somewhat large, almond-shaped seeds of the Black Sapote are inedible and are clustered near the center like a pit. Typically the fruit is purchased unripe and takes ten days to ripen.
Applications
Black Sapotes are known for their chocolate-like flavor; and because of this they are typically used for mousse, ice cream, and other dessert dishes. The dark flesh can be scooped out and eaten raw; however it is preferably sweetened and added to beverages or ice creams, cakes, and shakes. The fruit pairs well with citrus, such as oranges and lemons, the addition of which makes it a nice filling for pies. The Black Sapote flesh can also be mixed with milk for pudding, or blended with nutmeg for a refreshing drink. In Central America, the fruit is fermented to make a liqueur similar to brandy.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In the Philippines, the bark and leaves of the Black Sapote tree are used medicinally for blistering poultices and various leaf preparations are used against ringworm and other skin conditions.
Geography/History
The Black Sapote is native to the east and western coasts of Mexico, from Jalisco to Chiapas and Veracruz to Yucatan. The fruit was believed to have come to Mexico from Spain in the late 17th century and then to the Philippines in the late 18th century. The fruit can now be found in Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the small island of Mauritius off the coast of Africa. Black Sapote trees can be grown in the US, in Florida mainly because the temperatures in California are too low.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Black Sapote. One
is easiest, three is harder.
