Mafeungh| มะเฟือง | Averrhoa carambola
Family: Oxalidaceae - Genus: Averrhoa
The starfruit tree can be found in the village area and in front of the clay house of the DinDang project on the premises of TCDF and Eco-Logic.
The carambola tree has a short trunk with many branches, reaching up to 9 meter in height. Its deciduous leaves are 15–25 centimeter long, with 5 to 11 ovate leaflets medium-green in color.
Flowers are lilac in color, with purple streaks, and are about 6 mm wide.
The showy fruits have a thin, waxy pericarp, orange-yellow skin, and crisp, yellow flesh with juice when ripe. The fruit is about 5 to 15 centimeter in length and is an oval shape.
The fruit has distinctive ridges running down its sides. When cut in cross-section, it resembles a star, giving its name as star fruit. The entire fruit is edible, usually raw, and may be cooked or made into relishes, preserves, garnish, and juices.
The flesh is translucent and light yellow to yellow in color. Each fruit can have 10 to 12 flat light brown seeds about 6 to 13 mm in width and enclosed in gelatinous aril. Once removed from the fruit, they lose viability within a few days.
Like the closely related bilimbi, there are two main types of carambola: the small sour (or tart) type and the larger sweet type. The sour varieties have a higher oxalic acid content than the sweet type.
NOTE
Carambolas contain caramboxin and oxalic acid. Both substances are harmful to individuals suffering from kidney failure, kidney stones, or those under kidney dialysis treatment. Consumption by those with kidney failure can produce hiccups, vomiting, nausea, mental confusion, and sometimes death.
The carambola tree flowers throughout the year, with main fruiting seasons from April to June and October to December
THE TREE
The tree grows rapidly and typically produces fruit at four or five years of age. The large amount of rain during spring actually reduces the amount of fruit, but, in ideal conditions, carambola can produce from 90 to 180 kilograms of fruit a year.
THE LEAVES
Leaves are 15–25 centimeter long, with 5 to 11 ovate leaflets medium-green in color.
THE FLOWERS
Flowers are lilac in color, with purple streaks, and are about 6 mm wide.
THE FRUIT
The showy fruits have a thin, waxy pericarp, orange-yellow skin, and crisp, yellow flesh with juice when ripe. The fruit is about 5 to 15 centimeter in length and is an oval shape.
The fruit has distinctive ridges running down its sides. When cut in cross-section, it resembles a star, giving its name as star fruit. The entire fruit is edible, usually raw, and may be cooked or made into relishes, preserves, garnish, and juices.
The flesh is translucent and light yellow to yellow in color. Each fruit can have 10 to 12 flat light brown seeds about 6 to 13 mm in width and enclosed in gelatinous aril. Once removed from the fruit, they lose viability within a few days.
CULINARY USES
The entire fruit is edible, including the slightly waxy skin. The flesh is crunchy, firm, and extremely juicy. It does not contain fibers and has a texture similar in consistency to that of grapes. Carambolas are best consumed shortly after they ripen, when they are yellow with a light shade of green or just after all traces of green have disappeared. They will also have brown ridges at the edges and feel firm. Fruits picked while still slightly green will turn yellow in storage at room temperature, but will not increase in sugar content.
Ripe sweet type carambolas are sweet without being overwhelming as they rarely have more than 4% sugar content. They have a tart, sour undertone, and an oxalic acid odor. The taste is difficult to match, but it has been compared to a mix of apple, pear, grape, and citrus family fruits. Unripe star fruits are firmer and sour, and taste like green apples.
Ripe carambolas may also be used in cooking. At Eco-Logic you will find the star fruit as a part of fruit salads or in fruit shakes.
NUTRITION
Raw carambola is 91% water, 7% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and has negligible fat. A 100 gram reference amount of raw fruit supplies 31 calories and a rich content of vitamin C, with no other micronutrients in significant content.
TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF NEEDLE FLOWER
NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.
Medicinally, the fruit can act as a laxative and is used in traditional medicine against fever, skin disorders, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The leaves, on the other hand, are said to be used as relief from rheumatism; the flowers against coughs, and the seed against asthma, colic, and jaundice.
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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