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- Close relative of the mango oval 6-9cm long
- Thin but tough skin golden yellow when ripe
- While still firm the flesh is crisp and juicy with a pineapple like fragrance and flavour if allowed to soften, the aroma and flavour become mushy and the flesh is difficult to slice
- Contains 1-5 flat seeds
The tree is rapid growing, attaining a height 9-12m. It is upright and rather rigid and symmetrical, a stately ornamental with deciduous, pinnate leaves 20-60cm in length. At the beginning of the dry season, the leaves turn bright-yellow and fall, but the tree with its nearly smooth, light grey-brown bark and graceful rounded branches is not unattractive during the weeks it remains bare.
Ambarellas are lovely consumed fresh, pureed for beverages or used in cheese and fruit platters.
The tree flourishes in humid tropical and subtropical areas. All soil types are suitable provided they are well drained. The tree is easily propagated by seeds, which germinate in about four weeks, or by large hardwood cuttings. It can also be grafted on its own rootstock. Seedlings may fruit when only four years old. Sheltered locations are preferred for protection from winds.
The Ambarella is native to Melanesia and Polynesia.
Botanical Name: Spondias cytherea (Anacardiaceae)
Alternative Names: Great hog plum, Otaheite apple, Tahitian quince, Vi apple
Health Benefits
100g of Ambarella yields the following:
- Calories – 48
- Total Carbs – 12g
- Protein – 1g (negligible)
- Calcium – 5.2% of RDI
- Vitamin A – 4% of RDI
- Vitamin C – 60% of RDI
- Iron – 1.6% of RDI
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Selecting tips
- Select firm fruit free from blemishes, golden yellow in colour when ripe.
- Store between 10°C – 15°C and 90 – 95% relative humidity.
- Ripen at room temperature and store in the refrigerator crisper for a short period.