Author Topic: Star Apples from Vietnam (Read 4957 times)

simon_grow · « **on:** January 18, 2018, 04:51:04 PM »

A good friend from the forum just informed me that they are selling Star Apples imported from Vietnam at Luck Seafood so I picked up a few. They are selling for $7.99/pound. I’ve never eaten them before so I’m excited to try this new fruit but I’m not expecting much from these imported fruit. I’ll give a taste report when I cut them open.

Simon

marklee · « **Reply #1 on:** January 18, 2018, 06:59:32 PM »

Simon,

I haven't tasted any of the imported ones, but have had fresh ones from trees. They are actually pretty good, but not lychee or longan "good".

Let us know.

BrianL · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2018, 12:04:34 AM »

The ones I tried weren't great, but one was sweet. Hope to find some scion wood and see if I can fruit these with a indoor/outdoor arrangement.

gozp · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2018, 12:57:53 AM »

i really loved caimito in the PH especially the purple ones..

We usually consume them fresh from tree when they are soft to touch or deep purple color.

There is a huge difference on taste on tree-riped vs counter-riped.

FrankDrebinOfFruits · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2018, 02:14:26 AM »

Last I was in Singapore there was some tourist signage in a park about the Caimito trees health benefits. The sign discussed how the leaves can be used to make a drink to prevent the sluggishness due to humidity.... that sounded interesting. Especially because there is always yard work and the hot days tend to be the hardest.

I have found lots of health benefits online, but nothing that reiterates what I read on that sign...
https://www.medicinalherbs-4u.com/star-apple-leaves.html

simon_grow · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2018, 11:19:48 AM »

After watching some YouTube videos, I decided to let these ripen a bit more before I open one up. Chris from Trulytropical has a video that shows the purple ones cut up at different stages of ripeness. These fruit I purchased were all slightly soft to the touch similar to a just ripened Peach but there are no wrinkles on the fruit at all.

Jared the weird Fruit explorer has a couple videos and he ate the fruit in what appeared to be somewhat soft but not wrinkled. I’ll report back once I try the fruit.

Simon

waxy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2018, 01:37:30 PM »

Quote from: BrianL on January 19, 2018, 12:04:34 AM

The ones I tried weren't great, but one was sweet. Hope to find some scion wood and see if I can fruit these with a indoor/outdoor arrangement.

It’s possible but difficult without the proper environment.
Mine are flowering right now but really not a good idea to let them fruit.

The thing about Star Apples is they bloom during winter and you’ll have to have a controlled microclimate to make them happy until warmer weathers in spring.

I have purple, green and some other varieties all are grafted or air layered.
Couldn’t figure out how to post my picture on here with my phone sorry.

waxy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2018, 02:10:38 PM »

What is the name of the store Simon, Luck seafood?
Where are they locked I want to check it out.

Thanks!

FruitFool · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2018, 12:03:30 AM »

I think he means "Lucky Seafood" located at Mira mesa and Black mountain Rd. intersection.
I went there today and don't see these fruits anymore.

-FruitFool

Raulglezruiz · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2018, 10:20:02 AM »

Quote from: simon_grow on January 19, 2018, 11:19:48 AM

After watching some YouTube videos, I decided to let these ripen a bit more before I open one up. Chris from Trulytropical has a video that shows the purple ones cut up at different stages of ripeness. These fruit I purchased were all slightly soft to the touch similar to a just ripened Peach but there are no wrinkles on the fruit at all.

Jared the weird Fruit explorer has a couple videos and he ate the fruit in what appeared to be somewhat soft but not wrinkled. I’ll report back once I try the fruit.

Simon

Hi Simon, I have noticed my Caimitos are not climateric, once I cut them off the tree the ripening process stops, and the longer I take in days to consume the less flavor and sweetness, so the key is cut them ripe and eat them right away right away...

simon_grow · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2018, 10:27:04 AM »

Waxy, Fruitfool is correct, it’s the Seafood City in Mira Mesa off Black Mountain Road.

Raul my friend, thanks for the advice, I will try one when I get home later.

Simon

waxy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2018, 01:36:04 PM »

How do they taste, that’s the real question lol!
Is it worth the drive!

simon_grow · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2018, 01:43:12 PM »

Ok, I just cut open the softest Caimito and it exploded with white milky juice. This one has a small section that tasted like it was just about to ferment but it was quite delicious. It tasted like milk or water with sweetened condensed milk added. It was sweet but just barely. It had a Brix reading of 15%.

Because this first one was over ripe, I cut into another fruit and it was solid but soft. The texture was like almond jello( agar agar) and I preferred this fruit more because it wasn’t just mush. It tasted about the same sweetness as the first fruit so I didn’t take any additional Brix readings.

I like this fruit and will eat it in a heartbeat and a good friend texted me that it would taste even better if ripened on the tree but it is not a fruit I would make room to grow in my small yard. If I had the room, I would plant a tree to increase diversity but the fruit did not knock my socks off. I’ll keep an open mind and I’m sure I’ll be able to taste a tree ripened Fruit in the future.

Simon

dragon · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2018, 03:01:27 PM »

I just bought a case of 3 fruits at Thuan Phat supermarket in Linda vista. They are sold out fast at $5.99/lbs. it is slightly sweet not as sweet as the one I tried at my country 21 years ago. I have a tree here but have not given me any fruit. Rilght now my tree doesn’t have any leaves left on the branch. I’m afraid it will die because of cold weather.

Bhkkatemoya · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2018, 10:30:34 PM »

Thuan phat supermarket in little Saigon is selling $43 a box.

It tastes so much better from the tree Simon. These commercial harvest picked the fruits way too early. It’s definitely worth growing if we can grow and fruit them here in San Diego.

Good luck dragon! Let us know if yours survive and fruit in the coming years.

waxy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2018, 07:35:38 PM »

How many pounds is that, doesn't say.
My guess is 10 pounds with that flat box?

Looks like they're starting to import these in San Jose/SF Bay Area.
Saw some at the little Saigon Market here in SJ on Story, $8 bucks a pound.

Mugenia · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2018, 09:23:46 AM »

If I were you, I'd not be eating star apples from Vietnam. Some one just shared a video of maggots or parasites found inside the star apples from Vietnam on Facebook. H/she bought it from Little Saigon's. The video posted on California Tropical Fruit Growers.

Awesome, bon appetite.

boxturtle · « **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2018, 10:24:39 AM »

Ok, I just cut open the softest Caimito and it exploded with white milky juice. This one has a small section that tasted like it was just about to ferment but it was quite delicious. It tasted like milk or water with sweetened condensed milk added. It was sweet but just barely. It had a Brix reading of 15%.

Simon that's why in Vietnam if you literally translate the name of the fruit it's "suck milk" like you sucking on a tit

waxy · « **Reply #18 on:** January 23, 2018, 11:57:56 AM »

Quote from: Mugenia on January 23, 2018, 09:23:46 AM

If I were you, I'd not be eating star apples from Vietnam. Some one just shared a video of maggots or parasites found inside the star apples from Vietnam on Facebook. H/she bought it from Little Saigon's. The video posted on California Tropical Fruit Growers.

Awesome, bon appetite.

I find that hard to swallow, since maggots or parasites need dead flesh to host their pupate stage.
Even at home with all the fallen fruit and dog $#!+ everywhere I've never seen anything like it in fruits.
It's possible it may be caterpillars of some sort?

The source she received it from probably had poor handling, but I've bought a box, consumed half and haven't seen anything but delicious white milky flesh. Would I still eat it if maggots appeared? You bet! It's a stellar deal to get protein packed in your fruit!

Best way to eat it, refrigerate, roll around with pressure on flat surface, make a incision on the center all the way around the fruit and pry open. It'll come out perfectly and easy to eat with a spoon or just invert the skin to devour. Add condensed milk and crushed ice to preferred amount.

simon_grow · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2018, 01:23:15 PM »

None of the six fruit I ate had maggots. Sometimes I get mulberries at the farmers market and they sometimes have worms. At least I know they didn’t use insecticides, or at least not enough.

Simon

FlyingFoxFruits · « **Reply #20 on:** January 23, 2018, 02:16:37 PM »

Quote from: Mugenia on January 23, 2018, 09:23:46 AM

If I were you, I'd not be eating star apples from Vietnam. Some one just shared a video of maggots or parasites found inside the star apples from Vietnam on Facebook. H/she bought it from Little Saigon's. The video posted on California Tropical Fruit Growers.

Awesome, bon appetite.

wow, hope they didn't import oriental fruit fly! the USDA goes apeshit over those maggots in FL

Mikey · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2018, 08:47:37 PM »

If you cut the fruit from top to bottom like a slice apple it will be easier to consume.

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Author Topic: Star Apples from Vietnam (Read 4957 times)