Lamood | ละมุด | Manilkara zapota
Family: Sapotaceae - Genus: Manilkara
The Sapodilla is grown in the Paksong area on different plantations.
Sapodilla is a long-lived, evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. It was introduced to the Philippines during Spanish colonization. Nowadays it is grown in large quantities in Thailand too. Interesting fact: for many years, the latex from the sapodilla tree called ‘chicle’ was the main ingredient of chewing gum. The ripe fruit of the sapodilla has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor.
Harvesting season lasts from September until December
THE TREE
Sapodilla can grow to more than 30 meter tall with an average trunk diameter of 1.5 meter. The bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle.
The sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight years to bear fruit and yields fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.
THE LEAVES
The ornamental leaves are medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, 7–15 cm long, with an entire margin.
THE FLOWERS
The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla.
THE FRUIT
The fruit is a large berry, 4–8 centimeter in diameter. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear.
Unripe fruit has a firm outer skin and when picked, releases white chicle from its stem.
A fully ripened fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked.
NOTE:
Each fruit contains one to six seeds. The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.
CULINARY USES OF ASIATIC SAPODILLA
Sapodilla fruit is mainly consumed fresh as a dessert due to its pleasant sweet flavor and aroma. Sometimes the fruit is chilled prior to eating which improves its flavor.
The flesh is sometimes used to make sherbets, ice cream or is eaten as dried fruit in India.
Sapodilla makes a wonderful smoothie in combination with coconut milk. Click on the Food Forest Kitchen link for the recipe.
NUTRITION
The nutritional value of Sapodilla in 241 grams of the fruit are as:
Calories (200 Kcal), Dietary Fiber (12.8 g), Fat (2.65 g), Protein (1.06 g), Carbohydrate (48.1 g), Calcium (51 mg), Water (187.98 g), Magnesium ( 29 mg), Iron (1.93 mg), Potassium ( 465 mg), Phosphorous (29 mg), Pantothenic acid (0.607 mg), Vitamin C (35.4 mg), Folate (34 µg), Niacin (0.482 mg) and Vitamin A (7 µg)
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Sapodilla possesses anti-inflammatory properties. It contains a good amount of dietary fiber..
In India the fruit is used for anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
Sapodilla is rich in calories.
INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience
For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!
Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!
INTO THE WILD!
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