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Sapodilla Manilkara zapota a.k.a. Chico Sapote, Zapote, Chicle A uniquely flavored fruit, the soft brown flesh of the sapodilla
tastes a bit like a sweet mix of brown sugar and root beer.
The sapodilla tree is also the source of chicle, a chewing gum
component. |
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Uses |
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Eaten fresh, usually as a dessert fruit. The bark contains a gummy latex substance called chicle which used to be a primary ingredient in chewing gum. |
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Plant Cultivation |
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A slow growing and very large tree that can reach over 100ft in the
tropics. The sapodilla is reasonably hardy tree when full grown and
can stand temperatures into the high 20's. It is at home in both dry
and wet climates and is drought tolerant. Fruiting occurs 4-6 months
after flowering, with fruit sometimes ripening in bunches multiple
times of the year. |
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Origin and Distribution |
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Native to the Yucatan, Guatemala, and Belize. It is now grown in much of the tropics. |
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Related Species |
