Chikoo is a fruit that grows in parts of Asia and Africa, but its often mistaken to be an Asian pear.
The fruit has been consumed for centuries in India, the Philippines, and Africa.
This refreshingly sweet fruit is perfect for warm days and hot summer nights.
This blog article will discuss what chikoo tastes like, how to consume chikoo, and other topics.
Contents
What exactly is Chikoo?
Chikoo is a tropical fruit that grows in tropical areas, including subtropical India.
It has been farmed for over 2000 years, and Portuguese explorers carried it to the Western Hemisphere.
They are also called as sapodilla, sapota, or naseberry.
In many parts of Asia, they have become so essential to the cuisine that they are considered a staple.
They have become very popular in India, particularly because of their medicinal value.
It is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a variety of medical ailments and conditions, ranging from asthma to stomach ulcers.
With its huge leaves, the Chikoo tree may grow up to 98 feet tall, providing shade during the day and safety at night.
The trees produce blooms and fruit all year.
When ripe, the Chikoo turns brown and has a soft texture that can be scooped out in chunks, almost like ice cream from the tree.
Just slicing open the skin from top to bottom and scooping out the soft flesh like an avocado or mango is the finest way to enjoy them.
Chikoo’s Nutritional Advantages
Chikoo is an Asian fruit that has been utilized in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia.
Chikoo is high in vitamin A, E, and B-complex vitamins, which are essential for red blood cell synthesis.
Chikoo also contains vital minerals such as potassium, iron, and zinc, which help to maintain skin healthy and prevent infection.
The vitamin C in chikoo helps boost immunity while maintaining bone strength by increasing calcium absorption from other foods consumed throughout the day.
The high antioxidant levels in a single ripe chiku can help prevent cancerous cells from forming in a variety of parts of your body.
A Cornell University research of almost 200 women found that eating chikoo helped maintain adequate estrogen levels, which is one of the most critical variables in lowering illness risk in postmenopausal women.
Chiku also aids in the reduction of cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as the improvement of digestive health.
Eating chikoo provides a variety of essential vitamins and minerals.
One serving includes 30% of your daily requirements for fiber and protein, plus other vital nutrients.
What Is the Taste of Chikoo? Is Chikoo Delicious?
This exotic fruit may be unfamiliar to many American palates, but its sweet, tropical flavor and creamy interior are highly anticipated.
Chikoo (sometimes written Chiku) is a popular fruit in India, although it is widely available globally.
The chikoo tree yields enormous green fruits with thin skin.
When mature, they are yellow-brown inside and smell like pineapple or banana close to plucking time.
Chikoo is a sweet and delicious treat.
Their flesh has an almost creamy texture and a flavor that may be characterized as custard-like with overtones of pear.
It is an unique tropical fruit that has to be completely matured before its fit for ingestion.
Perfectly ripe chikoos are smooth and sweet with overtones of pear and pineapple.
Unripe or slightly unripe chiku contain high quantities of tannins and will have a sour flavor.
If you’ve ever eaten an unripe pineapple and found it sour and harsh, you should anticipate the same with chiku.
Chikoo seeds are a choking hazard and taste unpleasant.
Please don’t eat them if you’re reading this.
The fruit may be eaten fresh or cooked as a side dish with rice and is used in many Indian sweets.
How Do You Eat Chikoo?
Chikoo, also known as sapodilla, is a fruit containing a non-edible seed.
When eaten uncooked, the chikoo pulp tastes sweet and calms the throat.
It may be used in a variety of recipes, including curry sauce, cakes, and ice cream.
You might also utilize it for its oil content.
It should be refrigerated rather than kept at room temperature.
You may consume the chikoo by peeling and dicing it.
In this salad, for example, diced cucumber is combined with chopped tomatoes and onions and tossed in a vinaigrette consisting of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
As a garnish, this meal incorporates fresh cilantro leaves.
A ripe chikoo is soft to the touch and smells pleasant.
It is delicious raw with sugar, honey, or juice.
It will have little brown flecks on its skin when mature, which you should avoid eating since they are bitter.
A chikoo is not entirely ripe until it falls from your palm when softly touched.
Where Can I Get Chikoo?
Chikoo is a fruit from the Sapindaceae family that grows in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and East Africa.
It provides a variety of health advantages, including strong antioxidant levels that help keep your heart healthy.
Chikoo is available at your local Indian grocery shop.
If there are no Indian shops in your area, search online.
Amazon is one of the internet places where you may get them.
Curry Leaf Foods, Indian Grocery Shop, and more.
How Should Chikoo Be Stored?
Chikoo is a summer fruit that many people preserve in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
The chikoo may be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Place the fruit in a container and put it in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
Yet, there are alternatives to refrigeration for storing Chikoos.
Chikoo may be kept at room temperature in a closed container with ventilation holes for up to two weeks or longer.
This method of keeping Chikoo is ideal for folks who do not have access to a refrigerator.
To keep chiku in this manner, first clean the fruit before placing it into the container.
The container should be well sealed to keep moisture out.
Avoid keeping chikoo in the same container as fruits that produce a lot of moisture or have strong odors.
Additionally, avoid exposing the Chikoo container to direct sunlight.
If you want to preserve chikoos for more than two weeks, place them in a plastic bag and place them in the refrigerator.
This will keep your fruit fresh and tasty even after a month in storage.
Conclusion
Finally, chikoo or sapota is a delectable fruit.
It is also high in nutrients and minerals, making it an ideal option for individuals who are deficient in vitamins and minerals or who want to supplement their diet with them.
Depending on the kind of sapota you consume, the sweetness of chikoo varies from somewhat sweet to delicious.
Give it a go; you won’t be sorry.
FAQs
What does chikoo taste like?
Sapodilla is also known as zopota, chikoo, sawo, and sofeda throughout the globe… an alien here, but a cherished local fruit elsewhere. They have a caramel flavor and may be eaten both peeled and sliced.
Is chiku sweet or sour?
Sapodilla, often known as chikoo, is a famous tropical winter fruit prized for its sweet flavor and essential medicinal and therapeutic characteristics.
What does sapodilla fruit taste like?
Sapodilla has a distinct taste character, making it an excellent starting point for exploring other sapote fruits. This one is quite sweet, with notes of brown sugar, sweet potato, and pear. They also have a pearly texture and a deep molasses flavor that is typically characterized as malty.
Is chikoo sour?
Chikoos that are fully ripe are smooth and sweet, with overtones of pear and pineapple. Unripe or slightly unripe chiku contains a lot of tannins and has a sour flavor.
Is chiku good or bad?
Chikoo has a high concentration of antioxidants and has been shown to reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer. It includes a healthy amount of vitamins A and B, which aid in the preservation of the body’s various mucus linings.
What do we call chiku in English?
‘Chikoo’ is known in English as…
Cranberry.
Who should not eat chiku?
Allergic to Chikoo: Since chikoo contains latex and tannin, both of which are frequent allergens, it is best to avoid it if you notice any rashes or swelling on your skin or throat.
When should you avoid chikoo?
In fact, chikoo contains a lot of sugar. In this case, consuming chikoo before night might improve your body’s sugar and energy levels. As a result, you may have difficulty sleeping. As a result, avoid consuming chikoo before going to bed.
What are the cons of chikoo?
Chikoo’s disadvantages
Chikoos also have a high glycemic index, making them troublesome for diabetics. If ingested in excess, sapodilla may induce throat inflammation and irritation, which can lead to breathing issues, particularly in youngsters.
How is chikoo eaten?
Before eating, run cold water over the sandy scruff. Fresh sapota fruit may be eaten after it has softened. Split the fruit in half, then scoop out the flesh with a spoon and discard the seeds. Sapota is best enjoyed by itself due to its overwhelming flavor and taste.
