Sugar Apple, Sweetsop (Annona squamosa)

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Thaumaturgist Rockledge, FL(Zone 10a) Sep 16, 2003

Common name: Sugar Apple, Sweetsop
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Annona
Species squamosa

Plant Link: http://plantsdatabase.com/go/57879/

Thumbnail by Thaumaturgist
Post #651167
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ButterflyGardnr Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Sep 17, 2003

Are these edible for people or just critters? I'm not far from Merritt Island here in Orlando, but I've never seen this plant before.

Post #652432
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Thaumaturgist Rockledge, FL(Zone 10a) Sep 17, 2003

This is a highly sought-after fruit for human consumption.
Birds and other critters will also try to eat them too
as they are attracted by the fragrance of a ripe Sugar
Apple.

Once the skin cracks, the exposed sweet flesh would attract bugs, ants and other critters.

The production of Sugar Apples by commercial growers cannot keep up with the ever increasing demand from the south-east Asians, resulting in higher prices.

The oriental stores around Orlando usually sell them around August. The season had just ended for 2003.

Post #652544
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ButterflyGardnr Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Sep 18, 2003

So how do you eat them? Like a regular apple? Do you have to cook them? This looks like something my dad would have to buy just to say he tried it. He bought a chayote (still calls them "butt squash" to this day) down at the local farmer's market. I had to find recipes and preparation tips on the internet for him. The guy he bought it from could only tell him to use it the same way you would squash. His thick Spanish accent didn't help matters much...

Post #653554
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gordo4848 Pompano Beach, FL Feb 16, 2005

What are the uses for the fruit? Any idea of vitamin content?

Post #1290793
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plant_fiend San Jose, CA(Zone 9b) Feb 16, 2005

Looks very interesting. Do you peel them or eat as is?

Post #1291024
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Thaumaturgist Rockledge, FL(Zone 10a) Feb 18, 2005

For eating: peel the outer skin to expose a white, creamy, fragrant and sweet pulp with small shiny deep brown seeds.
Use a spoon to scoop just like you would to eat yogurt.
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Food Value Per 100 g of Edible Portion*

Calories 88.9-95.7 g
Moisture 69.8-75.18 g
Fat 0.26-1.10 g
Carbohydrates** 19.16-25.19 g
Crude Fiber 1.14-2.50 g
Protein 1.53-2.38 g
Amino Acids:
Tryptophan 9-10 mg
Methionine 7-8 mg
Lysine 54-69 mg
Minerals:
Ash 0.55-1.34 mg
Phosphorus 23.6-55.3 mg
Calcium 19.4-44.7 mg
Iron 0.28-1.34 mg
Vitamins:
Carotene 5-7 I.U.
Thiamine 0.100-0.13 mg
Riboflavin 0.113-0.167 mg
Niacin 0.654-0.931 mg
Ascorbic Acid 34.7-42.2 mg

*Minimum and maximum levels of constituents from analyses made in the Philippines, Central America and Cuba.

**The average sugar content is 14.58% and is about 50-50 glucose and sucrose.
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For more, go to,
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/sugar_apple.html

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Post #1294819
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