“Lumpy on the outside, heavenly on the inside—just like some primates I know!” – Mr. Gorilla 🦍
Why Custard Apples?
This bizarre-looking fruit hides a secret: flesh so creamy, sweet, and fragrant, it’s like vanilla custard crossed with a tropical smoothie. Even picky eaters can’t resist!
🔥 Gorilla’s Top Reasons to Love Custard Apples:
✅ Instant Dessert: No baking required—nature did the work
✅ Exotic Flavor: Like pineapple, banana, and strawberry had a baby
✅ Fun Texture: Scoopable like pudding, with pops of crunch (seeds!)
✅ Jungle Cred: A favorite of monkeys and gorillas
Name Game: What to Call This Fruit?
This fruit has more aliases than a jungle spy:
| Name | Where It’s Used | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Custard Apple | UK, Australia | Named for its pudding-like texture |
| Atemoya | U.S. supermarkets | Hybrid of sugar apple & cherimoya |
| Sugar Apple | Latin America | Called “anón” in Spanish |
| Sitaphal | India | Named after the goddess Sita |
| Buddha’s Head | China | Lumpiness resembles statues |
“I call it ‘second breakfast’—but that’s just me.”
While there are different varieties, in most parts of the world, you would be buying the green one with white creamy flesh and black seeds. The “knobbiness” on the outside may differ depending on the variety. Some varieties look more like an armadillo shell with less protruding “knobs”.
Anatomy of a Custard Apple
(Because looks can be deceiving!)
🍈 Outside:
- Knobby, heart-shaped green skin (tough but thin)
- Notable quirk: Scales or segments like a pinecone
🥄 Inside:
- Flesh: Snow-white, ultra-creamy (think ripe banana texture)
- Seeds: Dozens of shiny black pits (inedible—spit ‘em out!)
- Core: No central pit—just more sweet flesh!
“Pro Tip: The uglier the outside, the sweeter the inside. A life lesson, really.”
What to Look For 🔍
✅ Perfectly Ripe:
- Slightly soft between bumps (like a ripe avocado)
- Pale green/yellow color (darker green = underripe)
- Sweet, floral smell at the stem
🚫 Avoid:
- Rock-hard (won’t ripen well)
- Cracked skin or fermented smell
- Brown patches (overripe)
🌡️ Ripening Hack:
Store with bananas in a paper bag for 2-3 days. “Works faster than monkey gossip!”
How to Eat (Without Embarrassment)
- Cut & Scoop:
- Slice vertically, avoid seeds
- Spoon out flesh like a melon
- Gorilla Shortcut:
- Rip open with hands (seeds will scatter—jungle approved!)
- Chew and spit out seeds
- Fancy Serving:
- Chill flesh, mix with lime juice, serve in coconut shells
“Advanced move: Blend with frozen mango for ‘instant’ ice cream.”
Global Hotspots 🌎
🌴 Latin America: Street vendors sell cups of scooped flesh
🌏 Southeast Asia: Blended into milkshakes (“sinigang” in the Philippines)
🇮🇳 India: Used in religious offerings (thanks to its sacred namesake)
“Fun Fact: Spanish explorers called it “manjar blanco” (white delicacy). Fancy!”
Fun Fact
The seeds contain toxins—but make natural insect repellent when crushed. “Nature’s way of saying ‘spit, don’t swallow!’”
Final Thought: “Custard apples: The lumpy underdogs of the fruit world. Judge them by their insides—just like you (hopefully) do with gorillas!” 🦍🍈