Sugar apple

Sugar apples are eaten fresh, although they have lots of little black seeds, or used for preserves, drinks and ice cream. Sugar apple is a member of the annona fruit family, and grows wild and in gardens throughout the islands.

The fruit of sugar apple is oval or heart-shaped with tender soft pliable spines which breakup easily when the fruit is ripe.

It is also called the custard apple and sweetsop, The small, soft sugar apple can be peeled off in strips when ripe, and is like eating thick apple sauce. They are eaten fresh or used to make sherbet or drinks.

They are popular fruits of tropical regions and prized for its very pleasant, sub-acid, aromatic, juicy flesh and distinctive flavor. When ripe, pulps are creamy, very sweet and pleasantly flavored. However, these fruits soften very rapidly during ripening and become difficult to consume fresh.

Vitamin C content in the fruit which is an antioxidant can helps in neutralizing free radicals. Vitamin A present in the fruit is good for hair, eyes and healthy skin. Magnesium plays vital role in relaxing muscles and protecting heart against diseases.

The teas of sugar apple leaves are good for pains during child birth. It is also good for the spleen, colitis, fever, cold, dysentery, high blood pressure (hypertension), digestive conditions, and to normalize menstruation.
Sugar apple