Carambola
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 Carambola fruits
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| Averrhoa carambola L. |
The carambola is a species of tree native to Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia and is popular throughout Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia. It is also grown in Brazil, Ghana, Guyana, Tonga and French Polynesia. Carambola is commercially grown in the United States in south Florida and Hawaii. It is closely related to the bilimbi.
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[edit] Tree description
The carambola tree has long compound leaves (up to 50 cm long), pink flowers that appear either at leaf axiles or branch extremities. The tree is densely branched and can reach a height of 5 m. Carambola is one of the rare arboreal members of the Oxalidaceae family. Unlike most tropical trees, the carambola does not need much sunlight. In a container the starfruit does well, except it needs constant moisture, extra sunlight and space to grow. It is unknown if the tree will fruit in a container, although it will flower periodically.
[edit] Fruit description
Its fruit, the carambola, more popularly known as star fruit, but also coromandel gooseberry or kamranga, is a golden-yellow to green berry. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pears, apples, and sometimes grapes. The fruits are a good source of vitamin C. Its seeds are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside.
There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs.
The fruit starts out green, and goes to yellow as it ripens, though it can be eaten in both stages.
There are also approximately seventeen different cultivars. These are
- Arkin
- B-2
- B-10
- B-16
- B-17
- Dah Pon
- Demak
- Fwang Tung
- Golden Star
- Hew-1
- Kary
- Maha
- Mih Tao
- Newcomb
- Sri Kembangan
- Star King
- Tean Ma
- Thayer
Each has its own origin, flavor and production levels.
The fruit is rich in juice to the extent that one can make wine out of them.
[edit] Health Risks
Individuals with kidney trouble should avoid consuming the fruit, due to the presence of oxalic acid. Juice made from carambola can be even more dangerous due to its concentration of the acid.
Those with high cholesterol or are diabetic should also avoid this fruit, due to its high amout of sugar.
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