Please help identify this fruit.

[ericalynne]

This is fruiting in a yard in Labelle, Florida. A woman from Puerto Rico told me it is edible, but she didn't know the name. Does anyone recognize this?





Thanks,
Erica

[gunnar429]

ackee.


DO NOT EAT......requires special care.  I have one planted out and I love ackee, but it is the blowfish of tropical fruit, and can be fatal if eaten before it opens properly.  Basically, when the red part opens naturally, the 3 black seeds are visible and surrounded by a yellow, fleshy aril.  There is a pink part that attaches to the yellow flesh that must be removed. 

It, served with salted codfish, is the national dish of Jamaica.  Can be eaten raw or cooked, provided that the above preparations have been made.

[ericalynne]

So THAT is ackee. Glad I asked. Thank you for the introduction. I am glad I did not taste experimentally. 

Erica

[bsbullie]

If you have her show you, it is not as dangerous as people make it out to be.  Once you know how, quite easy to properly clean.   Excellent eaten fresh picked and raw.  Must eat when fresh, or cooked or frozen.  Does not hold well.

Odd to be on the tree in that area at this time of year.

[Finca La Isla]

Akee is in season here now too.  Raw and ripe it can be buttery.  Lightly cooked it might be like scrambled eggs with cheese.  We are enjoying it daily right now.
Peter

[ericalynne]

This is the second fruiting on that tree this year. Both times, it was covered with fruit. It is right on a property line in a residential area. I know the people on one side and they have no idea; it is not there. It is planted right on the street, easily accessible to anyone.

I do understand about care to be taken with some excellent edibles. I am a former mycologist and when I lived in the northeast US, I regularly ate wild mushrooms. In fact, I went wandering around in the woods looking for them to eat. As Rob and Peter describe, if you know what you are doing, it is really quite simple and not dangerous. But if you don't know what you are doing, it can be tragic.

Erica

[CGameProgrammer]

I didn't realize ackee could be eaten raw. What does it taste like?

[gunnar429]

I didn't realize ackee could be eaten raw. What does it taste like?

John Kohler (growingyourgreens) spoke about them in one of his videos a few years back.  He is a raw foodist, and spoke highly of the tree.  The other person whom I have heard this from is Bsbullie.  I just think some people (even Jamaicans I have known) are afraid that not cooking it will be harmful without really looking into it.