Zapote, White

The Aztecs used these tasty fruits as a food source. But the coarse bark, leaves and the pit of the fruit were also used. These contain the glucoside, called: casimirosine, which acts as a sedative in large doses, so don't just experiment...
It is claimed that drinking tea made from the leaves will induce sleep within an hour!
Even fairly young plants bear fruit well in our climate. The fruits are green and approximately 10/12 cm in diameter. The peel tastes bitter (so don't eat it), but the pulp is soft and yellowish-white and tastes fresh like banana and peach, is sweet and rich in vitamins A and C.
Flowering begins in early summer and often there is a second bloom in autumn. After the summer bloom, the fruits develop. These are ripe when they start to soften and the green skin begins to get brown spots. Do you have a large harvest? The fruits can also be frozen; there is no taste difference compared to a fresh fruit. After fruiting and harvesting in late summer, the tree can be pruned back to maintain its shape.
You can grow the plant in the ground and pack it very well during frost, but usually, they are grown in a large pot here, just like citrus fruits. Ask for our tips for overwintering container plants.

Names:
Latin: Casimiroa edulis
Dutch: Witte Zapote
Also: Mexicaanse Appel
English: White Sapote, Mexican Apple