Manilkara zapota, commonly known as the sapodilla, is a long-lived, evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It is grown in huge quantities in India, Pakistan and Mexico, and was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonisation.
The fruit is a large ellipsoid berry, 4–8 cm in diameter, very much resembling a smooth-skinned potato and containing two to five seeds. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. The seeds are black and resemble beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed. The fruit has a high latex content and does not ripen until picked, whereupon the fruit softens to a firmness and appearance very similar to that of a fuzzy, brown-skinned kiwifruit. , India.]]
The fruit has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor. Many believe the flavor bears a striking resemblance to caramel or a pear candied with brown sugar. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth.
The trees can only survive in warm, typically tropical environments, dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.
In Vietnam, the most famous varieties of sapodilla are grown in Xuân Đỉnh village, Hanoi.
zapota Category:Plants described in 1953 Category:Tropical fruit Category:Trees of Belize Category:Trees of Guatemala Category:Trees of Jamaica Category:Trees of Mexico Category:Trees of Nicaragua Category:Crops originating from Mexico Category:Crops originating from South America Category:Vietnamese ingredients Category:Crops originating from the Americas
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