Caimite (pronounced kah-eye-mit) or star apple is a sweet local fruit in the Caribbean and Latin America.
It is a perfectly round, plum-sized fruit with very smooth skin and sweet, jelly-like flesh.
There are a few varieties of caimite: green, yellow and purple. Green and yellow skinned caimites have pale to white flesh. Purple skinned caimite has a deep purple rind and flesh, but the center is often pale to white in colour.
Star apple is part of the Sapodilla family and has similarities to mamey sapote and others. Its botanical name is Chrysophyllum caimito. And it is sometimes called:
- caimito
- star apple
- star plum
- milk apple
- cainito
They differ in their skin color and pulp color. But all star apples are edible and contain jelly-like pulp with a runny, milky latex.
The latex is most prevalent in the skin and the thick layer underneath the skin of the fruit (the rind). It is best to avoid eating those parts of the fruit since the latex can stick onto your skin and lips and dry them out.
What do star apples taste like
Ripe star apples have a very sweet, pear-like taste with a mushy, jelly-like texture. When green, the pulp is firmer and sour.
The fruit is best enjoyed when ripe – when its skin is wrinkled, less shiny and soft to the touch.
How to eat star apples
Wash and cut the fruit in half. Spoon out the pulp in the center and enjoy cold.
Discard the seeds, rind and skin.
🚨 Please note: Starapples are available for preorder. Due to uncertain arrival days, if not available, your order may not include starapples initially, but they will be sent separately when they arrive. Starapple deliveries typically occur on Wednesdays or Fridays, but if not, they'll be available the following week. Thank you for your understanding! 🟣🌟