The unique, eye-catching color and shape of this fruit are qualities that make it different from the rest of the fruits. Star fruit, also profoundly known as carambola and Averrhoa star fruit, is originally grown and widely distributed in tropical areas like the south pacific, the Caribbean, and Florida, another tropical area.
However, it is most famous in Malaysia, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The carambola tree initially blooms with bright pink flowers and later becomes the fruit of dark green color and then turns yellow as they ripen.
What Does Star Fruit Taste Like?
Our reader must be wondering what exactly is the taste of star fruit. Looking at the picture, the carambola looks like a tangy, piquant, and sour fruit. However, this fruit offers both sweet and sour taste notes. Carambolas are fruits like apples, oranges, grapefruits, and pears. Reluctantly the taste of star fruit falls more in the category of sharp and pleasantly acidic, more like pineapple with a hint of floral essence.
In addition, Star fruit offers a sweet taste with splashes of tanginess. At the same time, Unripe carambolas have an extremely bitter and sour taste. Star fruits are juicy and fleshy from the inside, while the outer portion is crisp and crunchy in texture.
How Identify Ripe Star Fruit?
Carambolas have a beautiful shape and structure with an unreal texture. Ripped and ready to eat star fruits are more like grapes with a finished skin, tight and tender shape, and out-bursting with the splashes of tangy juice once bitten.
Star fruit is crispier once ripped fully; less ripe tar fruits are less juicy and a bit firm when bitten. The texture is quite similar to an underripe pear. The reason behind the name star fruit is that it appears as a star once sliced horizontally.
Nutritional Benefits of Star Fruit
Star fruits taste good and have an absolute nutritional value and a bunch of benefits. Carambolas are highly rich in gallic acid and vitamin c; also, they are a rich source of natural antioxidants. Whereas, Averrhoa star fruit is rich in antioxidants like potassium. Magnesium, phosphorous, also b-carotene.
Antioxidants have the power to fight oxidative stress, which is the cause of the development of multiple diseases, namely, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
In addition, Star fruits comprise additional antioxidants such as zinc, iron, and manganese, which help in strengthening the immune system. The immense amount of fiber in carambolas acts as first aid in vitalizing blood glucose concentration. They also control cholesterol with reducing effects by enhancing the cutdown of cholesterol, bile acid, and lipid through bowel movements.
Lowering the risk of heart disease is one of the major qualities of star fruit. The consumption of star fruit juice is less beneficial than eating in slices. The fiber-rich parts of star fruit are eliminated to get a fine syrup but become less beneficial. For that reason, it is recommended to consume the fruit along with its bulk. According to the research carambola may have the following properties;
- Acts as an anti-inflammatory(treats skin disease like eczema)
- Antiulcer
- Antitumor
- antimicrobial
How to Consume Star Fruit?
There are many ways star fruity, or carambola can be eaten and enjoyed. The skin of this fruit is edible and delicate; even if it is not peeled, it can be easily lived down and enjoyed in a salad or picked alone. This is one of those fruits which can be consumed along with seeds. The seeds of carambolas are comparatively harder to bite, and many fans of starfruits prefer removing them, but they are edible for the record.
The traditional way of slicing it is by placing it length-wise on the chopping board and slicing it. Then, depending on the preference, the seeds can be popped out or gulped down and enjoyed. Star fruit is eaten in both phases, ripe and unripe similar to mangoes and papayas. Those who enjoy mangoes in a chunky and tangier form would opt for an unripe carambola when it’s green, juicy, and tangiest sour.
Unripe Star-fruits or carambolas are a must add-on in salads with chunks of onion, garlic, and herbs like basil and cilantro. It works as lemons and performs nutritionally better than anything.