#Chikoo fruit in english skin
#Chikoo fruit in english free

India is one of the largest producers of the Chikoo fruit, whereas the trees are grown in Mexico primarily for the chicle extruded from the tree bark and used to make gum.

They have been grown throughout Central America since ancient times and can also be found growing in the West Indies, Bermuda, the Philippines and the Florida Keyes. On the Western coast of India where Chikoo is abundant, the city of Dahanu holds an annual Chikoo Festival to draw tourists and tropical fruit lovers from around the region.Ĭhikoo trees are native to Southern Mexico and the Yucatan. Chikoo ripen off the tree and are highly perishable fresh Chikoo must be eaten within a week. A sauce is made from pressing the pulp through a strainer, mixing with juice and topped with whipped cream. Add scooped Chikoo flesh to fruit or green salads or mix with egg custard before baking. The pulp is used to make smoothies and shakes, and in various dessert applications as well. The natural tannins in the flesh of the Chikoo are antioxidants and have antiviral, anti-bacterial, and anti-parasitic effects.Ĭhikoos are most often eaten fresh, halved with seeds removed and simply by scooping the flesh from the skin. It is also a good source for dietary fiber. In Ayruvedic practice Chikoo is used for its anti-inflammatory benefits. In the West Indies it is known as the Naseberry. Chikoo, as it is called in India, is also known as a Sapodilla in English or Zapote in Spanish. In India, the tree is cultivated mainly for its fruits. Most modern cultivation of the Chikoo tree is for the purpose of harvesting ‘chicle’, a sap from its bark. The seeds are inedible and should be discarded.Ĭhikoos are harvested twice during the year, once in the mid-winter months and again in the late spring months.Ĭhikoo, or Manilkara zapota, is the fruit of an evergreen tree native to Central America and grown since ancient times. Within the flesh of the Chikoo is a cavity with two to three large black seeds. Its texture and flavor has been compared to that of pear. Besides food values the Sapota fruits are also used in. The sweet flavor of the Chikoo flesh is due to the presence of high levels of fructose and sucrose. The Sapota when fully ripe is delicious and is eaten as dessert fruit. The flesh is off-white to a yellowish brown color and has a soft and juicy texture.

#Chikoo fruit in english skin

The skin is inedible, but serves a purpose as a kind of bowl for the sweet flesh. Tea made of young fruits and flowers is used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, and pulmonary diseases in Ayurvedic medicine, while the leaves are used to treat cough, colds, and diarrhea.Chikoo has brown fuzzy skin and is more oval-shaped than its Central American cousins, though some develop pointed ends. In folk medicine, the ground seeds are applied as a paste to alleviate stings and bites. Potassium helps to regulate blood pressure and promotes healthy circulation.įolate and iron help to prevent anemia caused by folate or iron deficiency. The magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus help keep bones strong, while the magnesium benefits the heart and blood vessels.

#Chikoo fruit in english free

Vitamin C also boosts immunity, can help to prevent infections, and scavenges free radicals. Vitamins C and A help to keep the mucous membranes and skin healthy. The fruit has tannins, which studies have found may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties however, more research is needed to better understand their benefits. It was found to induce cancer cell death and inhibit tumor growth in mice with cancer, as well as increasing their life span by 50%. The dietary fiber aids with constipation.