Custard apple

 Custard apple you are talking about one of the best fruits, the cherimoya or custard apple or sugar apple. The custard apple is a tropical fruit with a sweet taste and creamy texture . It was said to be tasting like banana, strawberry or pineapple. It has off-white pulpy flesh with small black seeds down to the core.

Origen

The origin of custard apple (Cherimoya or Annona cherimoyas) is thought to have center in the Andean valleys of South America including the areas that are present day Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. It was later grown in other tropical and sub tropical regions of the world such as parts of Africa, South East Asia and the Mediterranean.

The fruit has been cultivate and enjoyed for this many years now. The native people of America’s – specifically the Incas – also used it historically the spread of its use came with European colonization of the Americas.

Verities :

Custard apple also known as Cherimoya has several varieties all of which have different attributes. Of the White variety, the familiar heart shaped form, green skin . T hat turns brown upon ripening and white pulp with sweet taste is most commonly known. There is even a larger variety of Pink’s Mammoth, which has more pronounced texture and slightly pinkish color.

African Pride is another large variety, comprising round fruit and having thick and rather soft pulp, which is sweet. The Elena variety is medium – small, with smooth skin and much less fiber. While the African Cherimoya is larger, grown in Africa and is characterize by the rich taste. Davis ranges in size smaller but delicious, textured smooth and also comes with great taste. All of the varieties contain that familiar custardy, sweet and succulent pulp . But they taste and feel different, making custard apple a versatile fruit.

Nutrition value :

Custard apple (Cherimoya) is rich in nutrients and has many health benefits to humans. It contains about 75-100 Kcal per 100 grams and contributes a suitable portion of carbohydrates; 14-18 grams of natural sugars and 3-5 grams of fiber. of protein and 0.3 – 0.5 grams of fat depending on the size of the serving and is unlikely to wait to contain much fiber.

The contents of vitamins of such a fantastic fruit is indisputable. It contains Vitamin C (15-20 mg), Vitamin A (20-30 IU), Vitamin B6 (0.2 mg) as well as Folate (15-20 µg). Minerally, it supplies potassium 300-400 mg, magnesium 30-35 mg, calcium 10-20 mg, phosphorus 25-30 mg and iron 0.5-1 mg. It also contains flavonoids and polyphenol antioxidants which enable it shield the body against free radicals. Its rich fiber content makes them good for digestion and potassium is beneficial to the heart and assistance in controlling blood pressure . Thus being recommendable fruits for inclusion on a healthy eating plan.

characteristics of custard apple:

Custard apple (Cherimoya) has several distinct characteristics that make it easily recognizable and highly appreciated:

Shape and Size: Its mature fruit is nearly always either heart-shape or conical, though this somewhat elongated. It varies from small to medium sized on average, being between 100 to 500 grams, some breeds are much larger.

Skin: The outer skin of a custard apple is green and hard . When the fruit is still unripe and turns yellow or brownish when the fruit is ripe. It has small, rounded, raised areas on its surface or has rather a scaly round look to it. The skin is not for eating and must be remove before eating the meat of the animal or bird.

Flesh: The pulp of the custard apple is quite a freer distant. Also its interior is mostly white or pale yellow in shade. The purée has a creamy texture similar to custard or pudding although it has a quite sweet taste that touches both light flavors of bananas, strawberries and pineapples. It is succulent and sometimes woody more so in the seeds area.

Seeds of custard apple

Seeds: The pulp consists of many small black seeds which are indigestible and are encountere in the flesh sporadically. These seeds are usually left behind when consuming the fruit part of the said palm tree.

Flavor: Tropical, sweet with rich flavors, sometimes compared to banana, strawberry or pineapple. The unadulterated fruit is ideal for a dessert or for enhancements in salads and sherbets.

Aroma: It has a sweet aroma of fruit typical of the tropics and as the fruit matures the aroma becomes much stronger.

Ripening: Delicious fruits, custard apples should be eat . When they are ready to burst, which in most cases means they are soft. They also mature pretty fast hence need to be hand handled to prevent damag the fruit through fri

Health benefit of custard apple:

Health benefits of Custard apple (Cherimoya) Custard apple is capable of providing a host of health benefits because of its nutritional content. With vitamin C as one of the substances of a carrot. It helps to strengthen the body’s immune system and fights against free radicals. It is rich in fiber hence reduces the incidence of constipation and at the same has positive implication on the gut. Also, the fruit has potassium and this enhances the blood pressure to lessen . And the heart has to balance fluids in the body.

Other nutrients found in custard apples are also antioxidants including flavonoids as well as polyphenols . That combat free radical accumulation and inflammation. The fruit contain naturally occurring sugars and can therefore be use to provide energy. They do not contain a lot of fat which makes them good for the heart. Also high in magnesium, calcium and phosphorus nutrients . Which are vital to the human body especially for bone and muscle strength. Some of the benefits of including the custard apple in the diet include: nutrition, anti aging, and sweetening the body.

Drinks of custard apple:

Custard apple (Cherimoya) processed into different Aquatic products and both are together rich impurities and tasty fruit drinks. The natural sweet taste still be add to stabilize dairy products, smoothies, milkshakes or blended with fruit juices. The basic custard apple smoothie is made by blend the fruit with milk, yogurt, or coconut milk making it thick.

However, you are free to enrich its taste with such fruits, as banana or pineapple depending on your taste . Or even add a few spoons of honey or lime juice to give the dessert the necessary freshness. Custard apple fruit blended with water or coconut water to make a juice if you wish to have a light meal. Because these drinks are made from fruits.

They taken with little or no sugar addition needed. Also custard apple is very popular in preparation of smoothies with additional ingredients which help to boost our health, including spinach, kale or chia, among others. Custard apple used as beverage because of its smooth texture and custardy appearance . As well as rich tropical flavor which would be excellent for a hot day or as a very healthy snack.

Dessert of custard apple :

Custard apple (Cherimoya) fruits are very suitable for making all sorts of tasty sweets . Because of the fruit’s delicate, rich sweetness and creamy taste. One of the choices many people prefer is to make a custard apple sorbet in which the fruit gets blend and churned into the ice cream like substance that will suit any hot weather.

Can’t miss the lovely taste of custard apple, and thus a delicious cold treat . That involves blending the fruit with cream, sugar and a small portion of vanilla. A simpler type of preparation is the custard apple mousse – simply blend the fruit with whipped cream or yogurt then place the mixture in the refrigerator until set so as to give a lighter and equally delicious treat. Also, custard apple eaten in its raw form by combining it fruit of mixed fruits salads especially with tropical fruits . Such as mango and papaya, and garnishing with toasted coconut or a light dressing of honey.