I found this prehistoric-looking bauble at a Los Angeles area farmers market this past weekend. Any ideas as to what it is? Here's a hint: In 1866 Mark Twain called it "the most delicious fruit known to men." Put your guesses in the comments section and come back tomorrow for the right answer and a peek inside that scaly skin. UPDATE: Get the answer after the jump! Most of you guessed this one: cherimoya! It was fun to see that cherimoyas are well known in so many different countries such as Trinidad, Peru, and India. The fruit goes by a variety of names, the most common being cherimoya, my personal favorite being "custard apple." Here's a photo of the cherimoya once I sliced it up:
The flesh is white, though it tastes like it should be bright yellow or pink because of its tropical flavor, which is a combination of banana and mango - dreamy, right? My mom and I enjoyed these wedges like watermelon, eating the flesh right out of the skin and spitting out the seeds as we went. I wish we'd thought to pop it in the freezer or blend it into a smoothie like some commenters suggested!
In the market for a cherimoya yourself? Use this tip we picked up from the farmer who grew this one: Select a cherimoya one the same way you select an avocado - look for one that gives slightly when squeezed, but isn't mushy.
From: Steve Williams | 3/1/11 at 6:56 pm
It's a cherimoya.
From: Lauren Nguyeb | 3/1/11 at 6:57 pm
Soursop??
From: Stacey West-Feather | 3/1/11 at 7:01 pm
Cherimoya
From: Stacey West-Feather | 3/1/11 at 7:02 pm
Cherimoya Forgot my website on the last comment
From: Jessica K | 3/1/11 at 7:20 pm
Cherimoya!
From: Maggie Tubilleja | 3/1/11 at 7:36 pm
Cherimoya - Twain said in The Sacrament, Daily Union on October 25th, 1866
From: Deb Gerhardt | 3/1/11 at 7:37 pm
Cherimoya........
From: Deb Gerhardt | 3/1/11 at 7:38 pm
Cherimoya
From: L Cejka | 3/1/11 at 7:43 pm
This would be the cherimoya.
From: Alicia | 3/1/11 at 7:57 pm
LOL its a cherimoya.
In Trinidad where growing up we had several trees in our yard. On the island we call it soursop.
From: Laura | 3/1/11 at 8:01 pm
Cherimoya?
From: Francesca Papaleo | 3/1/11 at 8:08 pm
It's a cherimoya. Endemic to Ecuador and Peru, it has sweet white flesh.
I use it to make a smoothie of milk, vanilla, and cherimoya with ice. It's delicious!
From: Harrison | 3/1/11 at 8:40 pm
umm is that a Cherimoya? at first i thought that was a buddha's head, those were delicious when i was a kid back in taiwan
i later found out about on the internet about buddha's fingers which sounds interesting
From: M | 3/1/11 at 9:21 pm
It's a cherimoya.
From: Carrie H. | 3/1/11 at 9:22 pm
Cherimoya! I've never tried it...want to, don't know if I could even find it around here.
From: Jessica Sullivan | 3/1/11 at 9:46 pm
It looks like a cherimoya & we love them chilled!
From: joanne | 3/1/11 at 10:02 pm
chermola (sp?)
From: pascale | 3/1/11 at 11:15 pm
is it custard apple?
From: Sami | 3/2/11 at 12:06 am
Cherimoya, I believe.
From: Polly Welch | 3/2/11 at 12:11 am
It is not a cherimoya, is it??
From: Amanda | 3/2/11 at 12:55 am
Took me a min but its a Cherimoya:)
From: Ellie | 3/2/11 at 2:37 am
It looks like it could be a jackfruit, perhaps...
From: Matt Enos | 3/2/11 at 3:06 am
Cherimoya. I love to eat them chilled in the freezer. A truly delectable custardy treat.
From: Diane Martin | 3/2/11 at 5:25 am
I have never had a cherimoya such as the one pictured. I will look for one now.
From: Juli | 3/2/11 at 8:05 am
Is it a cherimoya (custard apple)?
From: Kristy Moon | 3/2/11 at 9:39 am
By the way, they're great with orange juice. In Chile, that's called "Cherimoya Alegre."
From: Fruti | 3/2/11 at 9:50 am
That lovely fruit is the cherimoya which thrives in Peru and Hawaii and now is being grown in Calif. Cousin to the smaller pawpaw and the more rare rollinia it is a
delicious fruit with a very tropical taste - hints of banana and pineapple. Also called custard fruit with it's great texture. That was an easy one. Next?
From: Sarah in Portland | 3/2/11 at 10:24 am
I grew up in India where it is called sitapul, fruit of Sita. Truly the most luscious fruit. I have never found any in Portland that compare in flavor to what I remember as a child. That goes for mangoes, guavas and papaya, too.
From: John | 3/3/11 at 8:59 pm
Yep - I ate those on the way up the Inca Trail 25 years ago