This plant is grown for it's edible fruits which is relative to sapodilla.The canistel fruits are shape nearly round, with a pointed apex, with 3 to 5 inch (7.5-12.5 cm) length, 2 to 3 inch (5-7.5 cm) width. The immature fruits are green skinned, hard and gummy internally and turn to lemon-yellow, golden-yellow or pale orange-yellow (color variation depends on cultivars) with smooth outside when fully mature.
The yellow flesh is immediately beneath the skin, which is mealy with a few fine fibers, in a mature fruit. The flesh is softer and more pasty toward the center of the fruit, with the texture similar to the yolk of a hard-boiled egg. The flavor of the flesh tastes sweet, more or less musky, and somewhat like a boiled sweet potato. Thu fruit contains about 1 to 4 hard, freestone seeds.
The fresh mature fruit can be eaten raw out of hand. The fruits are sometime eaten after added with salt, pepper and mayonnaise or lemon juice. Also these fruits are used as preparations like custards, pies and milk shakes.
Canistel fruits are rich in Vitamins A, B3, C; and contains 2.5% protein, 40% carbohydrates, with 2000 IU/100g of carotene contents.
Canistel fruits are cultivated mainly in countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Central America, Taiwan, Vietnam and West Indies.
[image: sliced canistel fruit]
