Recently I was given a few of these:
I had no idea what it was so I posted it on Facebook. Some of the responses were funny (only because I thought the same things!)….”is it fruit or vegetable?”, “hopefully the giver likes you and they aren’t poisonous!”, “is it alive?”. Well, I had a couple people set me straight on what it is…..custard apple (in Swahili, tomoko). Plus I was told it has many health benefits. So to eat this thing you cut it open (the “shell” is pretty soft and if it’s real ripe you can literally open it with your bare hands). After it is opened (see photo below) you’ll see it has a whitish pulp with large black seeds. You scoop out the pulp and I guess eat it like watermelon…spitting out the seeds. However, I removed the seeds so it is easier (and less messy) to eat.
It has a smooth texture with an apple-y taste…hence the name custard apple. It isn’t exactly my cup of tea but for the health benefits I’m serving it to Chuck every morning 😉
We have also saved the seeds for Roman to attempt to plant a nursery. From what we’ve heard many Kenyans love this fruit so maybe we can grow some for the kids!
Thank you friend for the new taste experience!
I was eating breakfast while reading your quote. I gotta say, It did not look appetizing at seven a.m. I think I have an aversion to flesh colored fruits. What did it smell and taste like?
not really much of a smell but it did have a somewhat apple taste…but the texture is not as “hard” as an apple (that’s what I don’t like, too mushy for me)!