About Aztec Fruit
Known as White Sapote (sweet tasting fruit) in their native Central America, they are green fruits that have a slightly asymmetrical shape. The skin is smooth, thin and inedible. The white to off-white coloured flesh has a soft, creamy smooth consistency and offers a sweet flavour with hints of banana or caramel, a trace of coconut, a touch of peach and a suggestion of sweet, ripe pear.
The fruits are in the citrus family and are not related to other sapote fruits at all. White Sapotes are either green or yellow when ripe.
Fruit will be soft when ripe. Pressing the fruit should cause a slight indent in the flesh. To eat, we just slice all the way around the middle, twist the top of the fruit from the bottom and it should pull apart easily. You can remove the seeds with a teaspoon and scoop out the flesh.
The fruits are in the citrus family and are not related to other sapote fruits at all. White Sapotes are either green or yellow when ripe.
Fruit will be soft when ripe. Pressing the fruit should cause a slight indent in the flesh. To eat, we just slice all the way around the middle, twist the top of the fruit from the bottom and it should pull apart easily. You can remove the seeds with a teaspoon and scoop out the flesh.
Nutritional Information
Aztec Fruit is rich in carbohydrates and are a good source of vitamin C and potassium. They also contain vitamin A, calcium, B-complex vitamins, and the pigment carotone.
Cultural Information Aztecs were said to eat the fruit as a sleep aid. The leaves and bark were used as a sedative and used to treat ailments ranging from diabetes to rheumatism. Studies have shown the leaves, bark and seeds contain the glucoside casimirosine, which has sedative properties. The fruit also contains certain histamines that have shown to lower blood pressure. Experiments on White Sapote seeds have shown that one of its pharmacologically active compounds Zapotin, in in-vitro studies has "potential anti-carcinogenic effects against isolated colon cancer cells". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_sapote) |
Buying / Storing
Best eaten fresh, allow to ripen at room temperature. Fruit will be soft when ripe. Ripe fruit is quite perishable, but it may be refrigerated. Fruit may be frozen whole or as pieces or pulp. The fruit may be stored in the refrigerator when firm and unripe and then taken out and left at room temperature to ripen.
Limited markets sell our produce. Please contact us to find out where and when you can buy Aztec Fruit. |
Preparing / Serving
Aztec Fruit is generally eaten raw, the flesh scooped from the halved fruits and the seeds removed.
It can also be used in milk shakes and smoothies or used to make ice cream and marmalade. With added lemon or lime juice, the fruit makes a good jelly and also sorbet. You can also add the flesh to green or fruit salads or whatever your imagination can foster. Feel free to send us your recipes and recommendations. |