 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Mamey Sapote
The mamey sapote originates from Central America and is grown extensively in the West Indies and Mexico. It is one of the most highly regarded and important fruits of the central American lowlands. This fruit is reputed to have kept Cortes and his army alive on the famous march from Mexico City to Honduras. Introductions to tropical north Queensland are all seedlings and some selections have been made. Characteristics The mamey fruit is large, oval- to egg-shaped, and measures between 7.5 cm and 15 cm in diameter. It can weigh between 400 g and 1.5 kg. The leathery, brown skin encloses an incredible pink-red coloured flesh, which contains a single, large, black seed. The fruit can be up to a year on the tree before it ripens. Taste Pleasant peach-apricot flavour. Buying and Storing Mamey sapote should be ripened at room temperature. To determine if it is ripe, scratch the skin on the upper part of the fruit. The fruits ripen when the skin below turns orange to red. It should also ‘give’ a little when pressed. The pulp may be frozen. Preparing and Serving Fresh or frozen pulp is usually combined with other ingredients to make milkshakes or ice cream. When eating the mamey fruit fresh, cut lengthwise and remove the seed. Small pieces of the fruit can be mixed in a green salad or fruit salad. They make excellent jellies, pastes and conserves. Availability February to March & September. Varieties Pantin, Magana, Other selections. Acknowledgement The information about avocados is mainly sourced from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland publication Tropical Tastes - Fruits, Foods and Flavours of North Queensland and is reproduced with due acknowledgement and authority.
[Top] |
|||||||||||||||
