Star Fruit

20131022_210531

Starfruit also known as carambola is native to the Philippines, and the botanical name is “Averrhoa carambola. We call it “Balimbing” which is an ambiguation from the botanical name of another fruit we call “kamias” or Averrhoa bilimbi which is sour and used as a souring agent for soups and other dishes.

The fruit has five ridges on its sides and when you cut it crosswise you will find starshape pieces which most chefs and bartenders are using as garnishes for their foods and drinks. It’s actually becoming a popular fruit nowadays. Although it is not particularly sweet when you eat it, you can eat the whole fruit. No need to peel. Even the seeds are edible but you don’t have to eat it if you don’t like.

Starfruit or balimbing is rich in antioxidants and potassium. It is very juicy and good to eat fresh. It won’t keep long in the refrigerator so might as well enjoy eating it fresh and when in season. In the Philippines, summertime which runs from March to May will have an abundance of the starfruits.

Similar Posts

  • Guava

    Guava (Psidium Guajava) is a tropical fruit native to Mexico, Central America and the northern part of South America and is called guayaba, a Spanish word which the Filipinos used and became “bayabas” in the native dialect. The tree can be grown from seeds, and will start fruiting within 2-4 years. It will produce fruits…

  • Macopa/Mountain Apple

    Macopa or Mountain Apples are in season now in Hawaii and they look delicious. Their red color make them almost look like red delicious apples. They are crunchy and succulent and although not too sweet, they are refreshing to eat. Each fruit have a seed inside which you can discard because they are not edible.

  • Camachile

    Camachile – (Pithecellobium dulce) – is a fruit that we eat in the Philippines.  It’s plentiful during the summer season.  The camachile taste sweet but dry.  It has black seeds and we used to play with it. The fruit is unusual because of its coiling.  It looks like a bean and it actually belongs to…

  • Surinam Cherry

    Surinam Cherry – Eugenia uniflora – also called Pitanga is native to South America and made its way to Hawaii and is also considered an invasive plant. It grows easily and is also pest resistant. The birds like to eat them and spread the seeds by their droppings. Surinam Cherry is a small tree that…

  • Guava

    Guava is a popular fruit in the Philippines but it is seasonal. During rainy season that’s when it is most abundant. There are several varieties of guava that is native to the Philippines that I know of but the guava java which is an import variety from Indonesia hence the name, became the most popular….

  • Mansanitas

    Mansanita, means little apple in the Philippines. It is a summer fruit, green in color when young and turning yellow when ripe. It tastes sweet and juicy with a little tartness. The fruit has one seed inside, which is hard and not edible. I can compare it to the omebushi (Japanese plum pickle). It is…