Fruit trees we are looking for
Abiu
Botanical name of abiu: Pouteria Caimito
Family of abiu: Sapotaceae
The abiu is a tree that can reach 15 m in height with evergreen leaves are oblong to elliptical in shape of 15 cm in length.
The flowers are small, four to five cylindrical petals of a greenish-white color, open in the morning and remain open for two days. These flowers, hermaphrodites, grow directly on the branches.
The edible fruit called Abiu, like the tree itself, has an oval shape 5 to 10 cm long with a more or less pointed end, with a smooth and shiny skin, golden yellow when ripe. This skin of 3-5 mm thick and a "leather texture" produces an uncomfortable sticky latex. The interior of the fruit is translucent and white with one to four oval seeds. The edible Flesh has a creamy and gelatinous texture, whose taste is similar to that of a caramel custard. The fruit should be yellow in color and firm when ripe, with a hint of green near the stem.
Properties and uses
+ Traditional uses of Abiu
In traditional medicine, Abiu is used as astringent, anti-anemic, and anti-inflammatory and to relieve fever and diarrhea. The flesh of Abiu is consumed to relieve coughs from bronchitis and other lung diseases. The latex is used as a wormer and purge and is applied to abscesses.
+ Food use of Abiu
The Abiu is much better eaten fresh. Cool the fruit slightly, then cut in half to taste the "boiled" with a small spoon and adding a few drops of lime to enhance the taste. But be careful not to scratch the inside of the skin which has an unpleasant taste.
The other solution is to hollow out the flesh with a spoon and mix it with yogurt, or to make a fruit salad of Abiu with a few drops of lime to bring out the flavor and prevent the oxidation of the fruit.
The sweet and mixed pulp of Abiu is also used to make sorbets or ice creams with an unusual scent.
The fruit of Abiu is an important source of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamins of group B.