SAPODILLA, CIKU

The Ciku is a small evergreen fruit tree, native to Southern Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. The trees are propagated by marcotting and inarching, in addition to growing from seeds. They begin to fruit about 3-4 years after planting. Fruits are produced at frequent intervals throughout the year. They take about 4 months to mature from flowering. They are round or oval in shape, measuring about 5-10 cm long and weighing about 113 g. mature fruits have a dull, rather mealy, and pale to rusty, brown, and thin skin. The flesh, when ripe, is soft and pulpy, granulated and yellowish to pinkish brown in color. Unripe fruits are unpleasantly astringent. Ripe fruits, however, are much appreciated by many people dessert fruit. The flesh has been likened to that of a pear.