Chocolate Pudding Fruit

-Ready to pick Black Sapote.

Hey there! It’s late December in sunny Florida, and guess what’s ripe? The magical Black Sapote, also known as the chocolate pudding fruit!

I have to confess; until now, I’d never tasted, seen, or even heard of such a thing. Picture this: a neat fruit that looks like a tough-skinned, avocado-green persimmon. About the size of a grapefruit, they come in different sizes.

Similar to persimmons, they need a few days to ripen before becoming a tasty treat. But, here’s the twist - unlike persimmons that turn a golden-orange, almost translucent delight, the Black Sapote transforms into a dark, variegated greenish-black beauty.

-A ripe one.

Hold on, though! When it’s fully ripe, it’s almost too soft to handle, just like some ripe persimmons. Cut it open, and you’ll find a velvety, chocolate-pudding-like flesh with a few large, brown, smooth seeds - hence the name.

The flavor? At first, I swear it tasted just like chocolate! But here’s the kicker: I had just bitten into a piece of chocolate, set aside for a taste test, before trying the Black Sapote. Rookie mistake! After a quick palate cleanse, I tasted it again, revealing a mildly sweet, typical Sapote flavor.

-The pudding part.

Surprisingly, considering its appearance, the flavor isn’t overpowering or bitter. Most dark brown to black foods I’ve tasted usually have a strong taste, but not this one. And, trust me, it’s a far cry from resembling a green sapote.

Oh, by the way, these fantastic images are courtesy of Polynesian Produce and Oddity Central. If you want to dive deeper into the Black Sapote world, check them out!

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Cheers, D 🌴🌊