Cherimoya

Sweet, pulpy, and fragrant rich cherimoya is among the most delicious tropical fruits of Andean valleys origin. The greenish-yellow, conical fruits are from the evergreen trees belonging to the family annonaceae, of the genus of Annona. It is thought to be native of Loja region of Ecuador, bordering Peru of the low rising tropical forests of Central Andean Mountains. 

Scientific name: Annona cherimola.

Annona is a small sized tree, grows to about 15 to 30 feet tall with dense foliage, and bears fruits after 4-5 years of plantation. At their natural habitat, cherimoya flowers are pollinated by insects (coleoptera, hemiptera). However, in the cultivated farms, pollination is largely done artificially to obtain good yields.

The fruit is irregularly oval or conical in shape, has leathery dark green skin with polygonal indentations and small round or conical protuberances. It measures about 10-20 cm in length and 10 cm in diameter and weight about 350 g to 500 g and in some varieties weighing several pounds. Ripe fruits turn pale green to light brown color and emanate fragrant rich sweet aroma that can be appreciated from a distance. Inside the fruit features, cream color pulp with black color smooth seeds embedded all over. Seeds and skin are inedible.

Sugar apple (Annona squamosa) is small sized tropical fruit with polygonal mosaic pattern on the surface. It has rich taste and flavor similar to that of cherimoya.

Custard apple (Annona reticulata) is another small size fruit commonly grown in India, Pakistan and other South Asian regions. It features smooth conical protuberances (carpels) on the surface. It has similar taste and flavor as cherimoya; however, has less pulp and heavily seeded for its size.

Atemoya is hybrid of cherimoya (A. cherimola) and sugar apple (A. squamosa). It has better temperature and humidity tolerance suitable for cultivation in tropical climates.

Guanabana (Annona muricata) or soursop (graviola) is much larger than cherimoya. It is easily distinguished by its size, spiky surface and fibrous tart flesh.

Health benefits of cherimoya

Very sweet and pleasant flavor annonas contain an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals.

The fruit has calories equivalent to that of mangoes. 100 g of fresh fruit pulp provide about 75 calories. It is however, contain no saturated fats or cholesterol; but rich in dietary fiber (3 g per100 g) that helps prevent absorption of cholesterol in the gut. The dietary fibers also help protect the mucous membrane of the colon from exposure to toxic substances by binding cancer causing chemicals in the colon.

Cherimoya contains several poly-phenolic antioxidants. Among them, the most prominent in annona family fruits are Annonaceous acetogenins. Acetogenin compounds such as asimicin, bullatacinare...etc are powerful cytotoxins and have been found to have anti-cancer, anti-malarial, and anti-helminthes properties.

It is very good in vitamin-C. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

In addition, cherimoya fruit is a good source of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). 100 g fresh fruit provides 0.257 mg or 20% of daily-recommended levels. Pyridoxine help keep up GABA neuro chemical in the brain. High GABA levels calms down nervous irritability, tension, and headache ailments.

Further, it has well balanced sodium-potassium ratio. A good potassium level in the body helps control heart rate and blood pressure; thus counters the bad influences of sodium. It also contain more minerals weight per weight than many common fruits like apples, rich in copper, magnesium, iron and manganese.

Cherimoya fruit (Annona cherimola), Fresh,  Nutritive value per 100 g,  (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
Energy	75 Kcal	4%
Carbohydrates	17.71 g	13.5%
Protein	1.57 g	3%
Total Fat	0.68 g	3%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	3 g	8%
Vitamins
Folates	23 µg	6%
Niacin	0.644 mg	4%
Pantothenic acid	0.345 mg	7%
Pyridoxine	0.257 mg	20%
Riboflavin	0.131 mg	10%
Thiamin	0.101 mg	8%
Vitamin A	5 IU	<1 o:p="o:p">

Vitamin C

12.6 mg

21%

Vitamin E

0.27 mg

2%

Electrolytes

Sodium

7 mg

0.5%

Potassium

287 mg

6%

Minerals

Calcium

10 mg

1%

Copper

0.069 mg

8%

Iron

0.27 mg

3%

Magnesium

17 mg

4%

Manganese

0.093 mg

4%

Phosphorus

26 mg

4%

Zinc

0.16 mg

1%

Phyto-nutrients

Carotene-ß

2 µg

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Crypto-xanthin-ß

1 µg

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Lutein-zeaxanthin

6 µg

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