Unknown Fruits: Cherimoya

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Video: Unknown Fruits: Cherimoya

Video: Unknown Fruits: Cherimoya
Video: Harvesting Cherimoya Fruits October 2021 2024, September
Unknown Fruits: Cherimoya
Unknown Fruits: Cherimoya
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Cherimoya is a tree growing at a height of 5-9 m. The flowers are arranged along the branches on short stalks and consist of three fleshy outer petals and three much smaller inner ones.

Cherimoya begins to bear fruit at the age of 4-5 years. But after the age of 6, the tree produces twice as many more fragrant and delicious fruits.

The fruits resemble a heart shape, 10-20 cm long and 10 cm wide. The content is fragrant, white and creamy / fibrous cellulose /, where about twenty shiny black seeds are located. The fruits range from 0.5 to 3 kilograms.

Cherimoya is also known as the "ice cream tree" because of its consistency, resembling frozen ice cream, as well as because of its delicate and sweet taste. We can say that it looks like pineapple, papaya, strawberries, mango, banana and cream combined.

The plant grows in subtropical or mild temperate climates. The tree prefers a dry environment. During the winter months it is stored in rooms with a temperature of 10 to 14 degrees, where it can wait until spring.

The origin of the fruit comes from Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. Currently, cherimoya is also imported from Thailand, Malaysia, China, Australia, Spain, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia.

The origin of the fruit is from ancient times. Its seeds have been found in archeological sites in Peru. The fruits are depicted on ceramics. Wild trees are common in southwestern Ecuador, where the areas are sparsely populated and have large wooded areas.

The flesh of the fruit has a soft creamy structure. Chilled, it looks like a tropical sherbet. In Chile, it is preferred for filling waffle cups for ice cream and pastries or simply added to yogurt.

Cherimoya fruit
Cherimoya fruit

The inside is consumed with a spoon, after cutting the fruit in half lengthwise. It is added to salads, drinks, desserts. In order not to turn black, sprinkle with lemon slices or orange juice. Attention! Cherimoya seeds are unfit for consumption!

100 g of fresh fruit contain 74 kcal. Not especially recommended for overweight people, as it contains a lot of sugar.

Useful properties of cherimoya

Fruits contain many useful substances: proteins, carbohydrates, folic acid, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, glucose, fructose, sucrose, cellulose, pepsin, as well as organic acids - citric and succinic. Contains vitamin C, B vitamins.

With its ideal combination of acids and sugars, cherimoya is easily digestible, nutritious and very tasty. The use of these fruits normalizes the acidity of the stomach, improves liver function, stimulates weight loss.

Cherimoya and has application as a medicinal plant. In recent years, substances have been found in the plant that have high antibacterial activity. Stems and leaves are rich in specific alkaloids - liriodenine, annoninom, mihelalbinom and reticulin. Cherimoya leaves and seeds contain a lot of essential oils.

The bark and leaves in South America are used to make soothing and relaxing tea, which improves digestion and has a mild laxative effect. Indians believe that cherimoya leaves prevent the development of tumors. Two spoons of dried fruit are an excellent antidote for food poisoning.

Dangerous properties of cherimoya

Cherimoya contains a large amount of sugar and carbohydrates, so diabetics should eat these fruits with caution.

Those who have decided to try cherimoya for the first time should know that the seeds are poisonous.

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