African cherry

Description

Usually available from January to March/April

The African star apple is a sweet and sour fruit which grows in West Africa.

It has a tough leather-like, green to dark orange skin, depending on the stage of ripeness.

When ripe, the fruit has a tender, sweet and tart tasting inner flesh, which is also dark red/orange in colour again depending on stage of ripeness. Traditionally, the fruits are allowed to fall on their own, which is a good indication that they are ripe and ready to eat!

The fruit also possesses a cluster of about 5 large seeds stuck together in the shape of a star.

The seeds have a shiny brown casing which feels like plastic and are covered with a cream-ish white fibrous sweet membrane.

African star apples are a rich source of calcium, with each serving providing up to 10% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA). This fruit also contains good amounts of vitamins A and C (higher, in fact, than levels found in oranges). Star apples are also quite rich in iron (a mineral the body needs daily).