Caribbean Exotica: Meet The Aki Fruit

Video: Caribbean Exotica: Meet The Aki Fruit

Video: Caribbean Exotica: Meet The Aki Fruit
Video: ACKEE Fruit : Trying the Notoriously Delicious Fruit in JAMAICA (& Susumba Fruit Review + Recipe) 2024, November
Caribbean Exotica: Meet The Aki Fruit
Caribbean Exotica: Meet The Aki Fruit
Anonim

Aki is an evergreen tree that grows up to 10 meters, with a short stem and dense crown. It is grown mainly in West Africa in Cameroon, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

The fruit is said to have been imported from West Africa to Jamaica in 1778 by a slave on a ship. Since then, it has become a major feature of various Caribbean cuisines, and is also grown in tropical and subtropical regions elsewhere in the world.

Its fruits are close to those of lychees and have a delicate, slightly nutty taste. Aki is ranked second in the world according to a National Geographic survey of national dishes.

The fruit was first introduced to Jamaica and later to Haiti, Cuba, Barbados, Florida and the United States. Crushed unripe fruits produce foam, which is used as soap. Wood is resistant to termites, and can be used in the manufacture of various products. The seed extract is used to fight parasites.

Ripe fruits are consumed to reduce fever. A paw of crushed leaves is placed on the forehead to relieve headaches, as well as on the skin to treat ulcers. The fruit is edible only when fully ripe.

Immature Aki fruits contain toxins and can be dangerous. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, coma and even death. The seeds of unripe or overripe fruit are also toxic. When carefully selected, Aki are delicious and safe to eat.

They are usually eaten raw, fried in butter, or mixed into soups. In Jamaica, they are cooked with moruna, onions and tomatoes, or curry and served with rice. For many Jamaicans, Sunday is not a Sunday without Aki and sushi.

Serve aki for breakfast or lunch. Between 1973 and 2000, the import of canned food with Aki was banned in the United States because food controls found an increased amount of canned unripe fruit.

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