Different varieties of avocados are slightly different from each other, and the appearance is pear-shaped or round. The length of the fruit reaches up to 10 cm, it depends on the variety and variety of the tree. The surface has a dark green color, the shades differ among themselves depending on the degree of maturity. Completely ripe fruit has almost black color. In the inner part of the avocado is a large seed, it is not eaten.
Avocado - a dietary product that is usually used in cooking for the preparation of salads and a variety of snacks. It is a favorite among vegetarians, since the contained vitamin complex is able to fully replace the use of eggs and meat products.
The fruit is quite popular in cosmetology, it is added to various creams and lotions. Avocado oil is an antimicrobial agent and is often used for medicinal purposes. Promotes the speedy healing and regeneration of the skin.
As for the vitamin complex, the composition is quite rich and diverse. Avocado does not contain fats and sugar, so it is consumed with various diets. The composition includes such elements:
- vitamins: A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, K;
- folic acid.
Macronutrients:
- potassium;
- chlorine;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- magnesium;
- sulfur;
- sodium.
Trace elements:
- aluminum;
- zinc;
- boron;
- fluorine;
- iron;
- copper;
- iodine;
- manganese;
- cobalt.
Exotic fruit is quite healthy. Regular use contributes to memory concentration and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Types and varieties of avocado
Photos will help to understand how different varieties look.
As already known, avocados are a fairly common fruit. There are about 1000 varieties. And everyone has their own differences in taste and color. There is a list of the best varieties of avocados that are most often found on store shelves.
The inside of the fruit has a creamy consistency, which is convenient for preparing various salads and snacks. It is also used for making mashed potatoes, sauces, dressings for spaghetti and other popular dishes.
Avocado varieties are classified by type, there are only two of them - A and B. Flowering is divided into male and female. If the plant reveals its female flowering in the morning, and the male on another day, then the plant is considered to be type A. Flowering of the female genus in the afternoon, and male flowering in the morning of the next day - type B.
Avocados are also classified into three types according to such indicators: thickness and texture of the peel, the presence of anise in the leaf, fruiting and flowering period.
Consider the popular varieties of avocados.
Hass
Hass is one of the common varieties that is often found on store shelves. It has a pear-shaped shape, the surface is covered with hard skin. A distinctive feature of this species is the color of the peel. Not a ripe product has a green color, and closer to ripening, it acquires a dark purple or chocolate color.
Tasting qualities also have their differences, the inside is buttery and soft, has a slightly nutty aroma and a rather delicate nutty flavor.
Hass is also convenient for transportation, has a good degree of ripening, very rarely deteriorates and loses its appearance. Grown throughout the year and delivered to us from Kenya, Israel, Mexico.
Fuerte
Outwardly, this avocado variety has a more elongated shape, the peel is smooth, has a light green color, and the inner bone is small. The pulp, depending on the country of cultivation, can be light white or yellow, has a high fat content and is very pleasant to taste.
It is grown in many countries and, interestingly, in each country the taste of this variety is quite different from each other.
The fruits ripen in the summer and autumn. It is problematic and unstable in transportation.
Ettinger
The taste of this variety can often differ, it all depends on the degree of fruit maturity, sometimes you can even confuse it with another variety. Only ripened fruits have a taste of pine nuts, but already overripe and with a dark skin avocados acquire a taste of cream cheese. Outwardly, the flesh also resembles cheese. This variety is a sales leader, its main advantage is taste. It is very rare to find a tasteless product.
The skin is thin and has the property of being quickly damaged. Do not worry if you accidentally used it with pulp, it is safe and has no toxic substances, unlike some varieties of avocados.
Another difference of this variety is bone. It has a rather unusual elongated shape, gray color and impressive dimensions.
Variety ettinger can be stored for a long time and maintain its appearance, without any defects. This compares it favorably with other varieties, which often show signs of decay or stain. Such units become inedible, since minor damage can ruin the entire product. Oettinger, on the contrary, is stored for a long time and only with time acquires its perfect taste.
But if on sale the fruits are light in color and with the presence of dark spots, then it is better to avoid this purchase. Most often, such damage occurs due to improper storage, due to inappropriate transportation rules or due to the fact that the product was frostbitten.
Zutano
This is a Guatemalan type of avocado. The peel has a thin and shiny texture and a yellow-green color. This color remains unchanged for the entire ripening period. The fruits are harvested throughout the autumn period, right up to winter.
The inside is flesh, soft and slightly watery, light green in color. The stone is large enough relative to the small size of the fruit itself - 450 g, this is the best option.
Pinkerton
This is one of the hybrid varieties of avocados - pinkerton. It has an elongated pear-shaped shape. Fruits are large enough and reach more than 550 g. Relatively large fruit sizes, the seed is small and occupies no more than 10%. The peel has a dark green color and a rough texture. The more ripe the fruit, the richer its color. The inside has a creamy taste, and the color of the flesh is light green. This variety is famous for its high oil content. The inside is quite simple to separate from the peel. The fruits ripen in the summer and autumn.
Semil 34
This variety is more exotic and expensive, it is, so to speak, a premium class. Outwardly, the fruit looks like a ball, has a more oval shape. Reaches an impressive size - an average of about 1 kg. Despite the fact that only the pulp is almost 70%. They are grown in the Dominican Republic, but despite the hot climate from which it is delivered to all corners of the world, Semil-34 is surprisingly hardy. It is stored for a long time at various temperatures.
Like other varieties of avocado, semil-34 has a degree of ripening, while its taste is changing. A fully ripened fruit has a pleasant sweetish taste with a fruity note. Endowed with increased juiciness, it is used just like fruit. But for guacamole, a less suitable option, can only spoil the dish due to the high moisture content.
All varieties are slightly similar to each other and, due to their ability to change their taste during the ripening period, can be easily confused with other varieties. For example, if you give the semil-34 to overripe, then it is almost impossible to distinguish the taste from the hass variety. The texture becomes oily and takes on the taste of nuts, and the flesh acquires a bright yellow color.
Avocado royal black
Externally, the fruit of this variety of avocados is round and has a black dense peel. The stone is small in size, and the flesh is rich yellow in color. This variety is very rare on the shelves of ordinary stores and even in specialized fruit and vegetable stores you can not always find it. Fruits ripen in the winter - December-March.
Having considered some options for varieties of avocados, you can see the rich assortment of this product with useful properties. Cultivation is relevant today, and work on obtaining new varieties that are more suitable for transportation and storage is carried out annually.
You should carefully look at the fruits of the avocado before buying, avoid damaged fruits with an uneven surface or dark spots. After all, the slightest damage can significantly spoil the taste of the whole fetus.