Soursop - Exotic Fruits 

Description

The Soursop, of scientific name Annona Muricata, produces a fruit called soursop, also known as graviola, guyabano, and in Latin America, guanábana.

Origins

Annona Muricata is native to northern South America and the Caribbean, where it grows on calcareous plains and forest clearings.

Characteristics

The fruits are syncarps ovoid or heart-shaped. The largest can measure up to 40 cm in length with a weight of 7 kg. It has a dark green peel and is covered with thorns. The inner part consists of a white pulp with a slightly sweetened and slightly acidic taste. The soursop leaves can be used for the preparation of teas. The soursop can be consumed as a fresh and natural product, as a frozen pulp, in the form of capsules as a supplement, as a dessert, tea and juice.

Other facts

It is of thorny skin, white pulp and tasty, similar to litchi, and sometimes has even the slight acidic strawberry flavor of Malabar gum. However, its small black seeds are not edible.

Production

The plant that produces this exotic fruit is mainly concentrated in the Antilles, tropical America, Africa and Asia. It is a plant that is cultivated in pot in our latitudes, without bearing fruits. However, there are not very large crops and it is usually found in home gardens. Plantations are currently being established in subtropical areas of countries such as Spain, in regions such as Malaga and especially in the Canary Islands.