Today, a real abundance of exotic fruits is presented on store shelves. Not all people know their correct name, and they have no idea whatsoever about taste. In our article, we consider in detail the fruit "asterisk". First of all, let’s dwell on how it is correctly called and in which countries it grows. We also need to consider how to choose a ripe fruit so that it delights with excellent taste and is useful for the body.
What is the name of the fruit "star"?
In Europe, this fruit is loved for its unusual shape. It is enough to cut it across - and the original decoration for the festive table is ready. In different languages, the name of the fruit of an interesting form sounds differently - starfruit, cannon, tropical star, star apple. And all of them perfectly characterize the appearance of the plant.
The correct name of the fruit with an asterisk, according to scientific classification, sounds like - carambola. It belongs to the acid family, a kind of woody plants of Averroa. The fruits grow on trees with a dense crown, reaching a height of 3-5 meters, and wide leaves up to 50 centimeters long. The glossy yellow-green fruit has a ribbed surface. In the context, the fetus forms a five-pointed star.
Where does carambola grow?
The birthplace of the star fruit is Southeast Asia. In the wild, carambola grows on the island of Sri Lanka, in India and Indonesia. The plant is acclimatized in Brazil, Guiana, some US states (Hawaii, Florida), Israel. From these countries, fruits of unusual shapes are often imported to Russia.
Tourists can admire how carambola grows when visiting Thailand. The plant blooms several times a year. At this time, his crown is covered with beautiful, pink-lavender flowers. After about 2 months, green ribbed fruits are formed, within which there are several seeds. As they ripen, the fruits turn yellow. The length of the carambol does not exceed 15 cm. The ripening period of the fruit falls on May-August.
If desired, carambola is easily grown at home from an ordinary seed. The plant is unpretentious in the care, shade-tolerant, not afraid of drafts. Medium watering required.
Taste of exotic fruit
We can say for sure that this fruit is very juicy. But his taste can be completely different. Unripe fruits, namely in this form they are removed from the trees for subsequent import into Russia, turn out to be quite acidic, with an unpleasant aftertaste. This fruit is more like a vegetable, such as a cucumber. Ripe fruits with massive ribbed growths have a fairly sweet taste. Carambola is often compared to gooseberries, apples, cucumbers, grapes and even oranges. In one plant several taste notes are connected at once, therefore it is so difficult to describe this tropical fruit. Due to its high water content and sweet and sour refreshing taste, carambol easily quenches thirst.
Fruit "star" in the context has an almost regular shape of a five-pointed star, so it is often used to decorate cocktails and desserts. At home, carambola is stored in the refrigerator for about three weeks.
Composition and benefits for the body
One of the pleasant advantages of the star fruit is its low calorie content. 100 grams of juicy and ripe carambola fruits contain only 34 kcal. The pulp contains a large number of minerals important for the body (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus and iron), as well as vitamins (C, B1, B2, B5, beta-carotene).
The use of carambola is recommended for:
- weakened immunity and vitamin deficiency;
- headaches, dizziness, and fever;
- colic in the stomach and constipation.
Sweet and sour tropical fruits of an unusual shape are a source of antioxidants, have antimicrobial and antifungal effects on the body. The pulp of ripe carambola helps reduce glucose and cholesterol in human blood.
Asian healers use for medicinal purposes not so much the fruits as the leaves and flowers of the plant. But regular consumption of fruits will be enough to improve their condition and improve health.
Harm and contraindications
Due to the high content of oxalic acid, carambol may not be as useful as it seems at first glance. People with diseases of the kidneys, stomach, and duodenum should refrain from eating sweet and sour fruits with juicy pulp. Oxalic acid can aggravate the course of diseases such as gastritis and enterocolitis. At the same time, the properties of this substance are used by residents of Asian countries when stains are removed, as well as when polishing copper and brass.
Excessive consumption of carambola fruits can cause intoxication. Signs of this condition are hiccups, vomiting, numbness, muscle weakness, or insomnia. Intoxication occurs within 1-14 hours after the use of carambola.
How to choose ripe fruits?
Only fruits ripened on a tree have a sweet taste and pleasant smell of jasmine. They differ in characteristic bright yellow color and brown stripes on massive ribs. Unfortunately, they can be purchased only in places of direct cultivation of carambola. To import fruits over hundreds of kilometers, they still have to be picked green. Such fruits ripen directly on the store shelves or in a home refrigerator.
In Russia, it will be quite difficult to choose ripe carambola fruits. Fruit "asterisk", presented in our stores, has a light green or pale yellow color. Until carambol is fully ripened and eaten, it should lie down at room temperature for several days or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
How to eat fruit in the form of an asterisk?
The unusual form of carambola allows the use of sliced fruits into thin slices as a decoration for drinks, desserts, fruit salads and other dishes. However, the use of an exotic fruit with an asterisk in cooking is not limited to this.
In Asian countries, carambola is used in the preparation of many interesting drinks and dishes:
- Sweet and sour fruit juice is added to alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, giving them an exquisite taste.
- Unripe fruits are used as vegetables and are subject to frying, stewing and pickling.
- Ripe carambola is boiled in syrup and served as a delicious dessert.
- Sweet, naturally ripened fruits are used in making jam, marmalade and jelly.
- In China, cooks add carambola to meat or fish dishes, and also make delicious sauce from it.
When used raw, the fruits are not peeled, but eaten directly with a smooth and thin peel. First, the carambola is well washed with the removal of dirt from the hollows and ribs, and then cut into 1 cm thick plates.