Tuesday, 13 January 2009

STARFRUIT



The starfruit or carambola plant at the back of the library my library is bearing fruit and those who have tasted the fruit say it is sweet. Above are two pictures of a fruit from that plant.

Here is some information about the starfruit:
Origin
The carambola is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas, but it has been cultivated in southeast Asia and Malaysia for many centuries.

Etymology
When cut, it forms star shapes.
This five-segmented fruit is very attractive since, when cut, it forms star shapes. It has a golden yellow skin and similarly-colored translucent flesh, which is lightly dotted with dark seeds.
In the Philippines, it is known as Balimbing. An amusing aside: the same term is used to refer to hypocrites! Here it is eaten very ripe, when the flesh is soft, sprinkled with a little salt.
Medicinal PropertiesLiquefied, it's used as a refreshing juice and given to diabetics to normalize blood sugar levels.
In Chinese medicine, star fruit is known for its diuretic properties.
Nutritional values per 140 g (1 cup)
Calories: 32; water: 90%; protein: 5 g; carbohydrates: 6 g; fat: 0 g; fiber: 1.5 g. An excellent source of vitamin A (185 mg) and potassium (165 mg).

Buying
Look for firm fruit, with smooth shiny skin and translucent pulp. Green coloration is a sign the fruit is underripe. When very ripe, the yellow skin becomes lightly golden and the points begin to turn brown. There are two varieties: sweet and sour.

Storing
Star fruit are fragile. They must be handled carefully, since they bruise easily and turn brown. If the star fruit is green, keep at room temperature until the skin turns a nice golden yellow.
Once ripe, it will keep for 2 days at room temperature and up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

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