Cherimoya is a tree of the Annona genus, the Annonov family. Other names for this plant are chirimola, owl, the pearl of the Andes, chirmolia, and golden Peruvian apple. The name comes from two words of the Quechua language: chiri – “cold” and moya – “seed”. This name is explained by the tree’s endurance to weather conditions. It grows well in dry and cool areas.
- The homeland of the plant is the foothills of the Andes of Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. In Peru, fruits have been known since the time of the Incas. Cherimoya is grown in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, the Antilles, in cool regions of Central America, and even in the United States, in southern Florida and California.
- The trees are successfully cultivated in India, Australia, South Africa, Eritrea, Somalia, Portugal, Egypt, Italy, Algeria and Libya, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Hawaii. But the most significant crops are harvested in Portugal and Spain.
- The cherimoya tree grows up to 9 meters in height. Leaves are two-row, up to 15 cm long, and 9 cm wide.
- Flowers with short stalks, growing along the branches. The flower consists of 3 outer thick and fleshy petals, inside there are 3 small petals.
- The fruits are complex and consist of segments. Depending on the variety, the shape of the fruit can be conical or heart-like.
- The length of the fruit reaches 10-20 cm, the flesh is white and aromatic, fibrous-creamy texture. Each fruit contains about 20 large black seeds. The weight of one fruit is from 0.5 to 3 kg. Up to 200 fruits can be harvested from one tree.
- Cherimoya pulp tastes like banana, strawberry, pineapple, papaya, and mango with milk at the same time. Some varieties have a light cinnamon aroma.
- Cherimoya is often referred to as the ice cream tree because the pulp, especially when frozen, is very similar in consistency and taste to the fruity ice cream.
- The seeds of the fruit are very poisonous and cannot be eaten; to sleep well, it is enough to put a fresh cherry leaf in the pillowcase.
- The fruit is the national fruit of Chile.
- In the middle of the 19th century, Mark Twain called cherimoya the most delicious fruit in the world.
- In Chile, the pulp is frozen and served in waffle cups like ice cream.
- Outside of the growth of this fruit, its price is quite high.
- In some countries, one fruit will cost up to $ 50. Since they are heavy, they are often sold cut in half.
