2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Abiu (lat. Pouteria caimito) - belonging to the Sapotovye family, a juicy tropical fruit that grows on trees reaching a height of ten to thirty meters.
Description
Abiu is a medium-sized deciduous tree (most of the trees are about ten meters high) with brownish bark, very rich in sticky latex (a mastic-like mass of reddish or whitish color), which hardens quickly in the open air.
Glossy Abiu leaves can be either oval-oblong or elliptical. As a rule, their width varies from three to six centimeters, and their length is from ten to twenty centimeters.
Abiu flowers are characterized by a greenish or white color and are located either singly or in miniature groups of two to five pieces each.
The size of the oval or round abiu fruit is identical to that of the well-known oranges. All fruits are smooth and rich in bright yellow color. And inside each fruit, you can find very attractive egg-shaped seeds. The translucent flesh of the fruit is white and has a creamy and slightly jelly-like structure. The subtle aroma of the fruit vaguely resembles the combination of caramel with cream, and their taste is very sweet and pleasant.
By the way, each tree is capable of bearing fruit several times a year.
Where grows
In nature, Abiu can be seen in the Amazon Valley. And in culture, this fruit is grown throughout the year in the tropics with a humid and very warm climate. The largest plantations can be found in Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, as well as in Colombia, Brazil and even Trinidad. Savvy plant breeders tried to grow abiu in some other parts of our planet, but these attempts, alas, were not crowned with success.
It is impossible to meet abiu in Russia, and even imported fruits will not be able to please customers with their wonderful taste. The fact is that they are not able to transfer the transportation - within a few hours after being removed from the trees, the abiu will be unusable. But in the local markets in the above countries, you can always try Abiu.
Usage
Abiu fruits are mostly eaten raw. True, before you eat them, it is important to observe one important rule. Since the flesh of these attractive fruits also contains sticky latex, just before you put it in your mouth and start chewing, it doesn't hurt to get your lips well moisturized, otherwise they can quickly stick together and it will be very painful to unclench them. By the way, it is for this reason that these fruits are not preferred to be eaten whole, but as an additive to yoghurts, various cocktails or sweet ice cream (abiu is added there when ground).
And one more nuance - since the abiu pulp is cloyingly sweet, it is best to drink it with lemon juice or eat it with lemon. As for the calorie content, 100 g of fruit contains 95 kcal.
Abiu, rich in various mineral compounds and active substances, have a lot of useful properties. Vitamin A in the composition of these fruits helps with hair loss, significant impairment of vision, as well as various diseases of the nails and skin. Vitamin C helps to maintain immunity, and vitamin PP helps to regulate carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. The fiber contained in abiu makes this product very useful for people suffering from metabolic diseases and frequent constipation, as well as for people who are overweight.
Abiu also has very specific properties. It is no secret that in Brazil, people with bronchitis, coughs and some other respiratory diseases willingly eat cellulose - this helps to significantly relieve spasms and coughs. Abiu fruits boast a rich cellulose content!
In addition, abiu is very beneficial to eat in case of anemia - these fruits help to increase hemoglobin. This property makes them an irreplaceable tonic. Also, these fruits are endowed with anti-inflammatory properties - they are able to stop coughs and severe attacks of fever, and also help with diarrhea. And in dried form, Abiu is actively used as an anthelmintic.
