Star Fruit (Carambola)
Star Fruit (Carambola)
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Other names: Carambola, Balimbing, Ma Fen, Kamaranga
Origin: Southeast Asia
Tree Height: 12 - 30 ft.
Season: June - February
Cold Hardiness: 20° - 25°F
Fruit Description: The showy fruits have a thin, waxy pericarp, orange-yellow skin, and crisp, yellow flesh with juice when ripe. The fruit is about 2-6 in. in length and is an oval shape. It usually has five or six prominent longitudinal ridges. In cross section, it resembles a star. The flesh is translucent and light yellow to yellow in color. Each fruit can have 10-12 flat light brown seeds about 0.25-0.5 in. in width and enclosed in gelatinous aril.
More Info: The entire fruit is edible, including the slightly waxy skin. The flesh is crunchy, firm, and extremely juicy. It does not contain fibers and has a texture similar in consistency to that of grapes. Carambolas are best consumed shortly after they ripen, when they are yellow with a light shade of green or just after all traces of green have disappeared. The health benefits of star fruits include anti-inflammatory properties, better heart health, improve respiratory health, regulates blood pressure, improve blood sugar control, helps reduce cholesterol levels, improve metabolism and promotes weight loss.
Carambola, or star fruit, is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a species of tree native to Indonesia, the Philippines, and throughout Malaysia.[1] The fruit is commonly consumed throughout Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Micronesia, and parts of East Asia. The tree is cultivated throughout tropical areas.
The fruit has distinctive ridges running down its sides (usually five but can occasionally vary); when cut in cross-section, it resembles a star, hence its name.[1]The entire fruit is edible and is usually eaten out of hand. They may also be used in cooking and can be made into relishes, preserves, and juice drinks.