Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Carambola



The Carambola is commonly called Star Fruit as it has five golden wings that when sliced crosswise, reveal a star-shaped pattern. The flesh is juicy and transparent, a cross between pineapples/kiwi fruit, some liken it a little to apples. A great source of vitamin C, a citrus like taste with a floral accent. Can be made into relishes or chutneys but is nicer when eaten fresh. Star fruit is excellent when added to a fresh salad, adds a nice zing to the palate. You can eat the Star Fruit either green or when it ripens and turns a golden yellow in colour. The tree has an attractive foliage and usually produces large amounts of fruit. Carambolas are best grown in a frost free subtropical climate. The star fruit originally came from Sri Lanka and the Moluccas. For the past several hundred years, it has been cultivated in Malaysia. They generally have two crops a year, one in the summer and the second crop in winter. With pruning at different times of the year they can be induced to crop from summer to winter. The tree provides great shade in the yard but if the tree does bear a huge amount of fruits, the yard can become messy with excess fruit dropping on the ground. I brought this one tonight to show you, almost fell over at the checkout, $17-98 AUD per kilo, with this single one costing $3-29 .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carambola

4 comments:

LordSomber said...

I know I have tasted one at sometime or another; I vaguely remember them as green and mild in flavour.

Nunyaa said...

Yes you can eat them green, I like them either way. Now I wish I had bought two, kids demolished this one.

James Higham said...

You've sold me - where can I get some?

CherryPie said...

Now that has made my mouth water :-)