2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Kanistel (lat. Pouteria campechiana) - a fruit tree belonging to the Sapotovye family.
Description
Kanistel is a straight evergreen tree up to eight meters high. Under especially favorable conditions, the height of this plant can reach thirty meters. Each tree is covered with tough bark containing sticky latex.
The lanceolate-oblong glossy leaves of this interesting culture reach a width of four to seven and a half centimeters, and a length of 11, 25 to 28 centimeters.
As for the canistela fruits, they can have a wide variety of sizes and different shapes. They are spindle-shaped, oval, round, protruding on one side, with curved beaks or without them. The width of the fruit can vary from five to seven and a half centimeters, and the length - from seven and a half to twelve and a half centimeters.
Unripe fruits are usually sticky inside, rather firm and colored in green tones. As they mature, they turn pale orange-yellowish or lemon-yellow. And inside each fruit you can find a mealy and rather strong yellowish pulp containing from one to four fairly large seeds. The consistency of the pulp of these fruits is similar to a paste: it is not only sticky, but also quite loose. As for the taste, it is very sweet in the canister - this is due to the presence of a rather large amount of sugar in the fruit. The pulp of the fruit is always very high in calories and incredibly satisfying. And cut fruits have a very peculiar smell - they smell like whitewash or fried pies.
Where grows
El Salvador, Belize, as well as Guatemala and southern Mexico are considered the birthplace of kanistela. In addition to these countries, it is also cultivated in Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, South Florida, as well as in the distant Bahamas and Jamaica. In addition, canistels are gradually being introduced into the culture in Hawaii and the Philippines, as well as in Venezuela and Colombia.
Application
Canistle pulp is actively used for the preparation of exquisite marmalade, excellent jams and the most delicate custards. In addition, it can be pepper, salt and flavored with lemon juice, lime or mayonnaise. In a word, the sphere of culinary and confectionery use of the canister is incredibly wide. In the southeastern United States, as well as in Mexico and Central America, a great variety of dishes are prepared on its basis: from ice cream and airy creams for cakes and pastries to side dishes for fish or meat.
Kanistela fruits boast a large amount of carotene and niacin, which has an extremely beneficial effect on the nervous system and has antiallergic and pronounced lipid-lowering effects. And due to the presence in the fruits of a rather impressive amount of delicate fiber, this fruit is very useful for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and for constipation.
In addition, the locals use the ground seeds of this plant to heal stomach ulcers. In Mexico, a decoction of the bark of canistela is taken as an antipyretic, as well as a hemostatic and powerful anti-inflammatory agent, and in Cuba, such a decoction is used in the treatment of a wide variety of inflammatory skin ailments.
Kanistel has found application in other economic areas. Its fine-grained structure is incredibly hard wood used for furniture and construction. And the core of this tree also has a high decorative effect.
Perhaps the only drawback of these delicious fruits is their too short shelf life. Within three to ten days after harvesting, the canisters noticeably soften and begin to deteriorate quite actively.
Growing
Kanistel is a very thermophilic crop, and therefore it is able to survive exclusively in subtropical and tropical climates. In Guatemala, it can be found at an altitude of about 1400 meters above sea level, but under these conditions, it either does not bear fruit at all, or bears fruit is extremely unimportant.
Nevertheless, canisters are absolutely undemanding to fertility and soil moisture. And not so long ago, it was possible to establish a very interesting regularity - the poorer the soil, the higher the yield of canisters.
