Abiu

Pouteria caimito · Tropical fruit

40 pairings

The abiu is a yellow-skinned tropical fruit from the Amazon basin, the fruit of Pouteria caimito, a tree in the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae). Its translucent, jelly-like white flesh is mild and very sweet, with a flavour often likened to caramel custard or crème caramel touched with vanilla.

Picking a good onedrag

UnderripeOverripe

Coloured but firmMostly yellow with only a little give. A fresh bead of latex at the scar means the astringency is still in it — leave it at room temperature until it yields all over.Nearly there

Skin colourMostly yellow, a green cast left at the stem

SqueezeThe first give under a thumb, shoulders firm

Latex at the picked scarScar drying over, no wet latex left

Smell at the stemFirst caramel, only right up close

Reading a just ripe one. Move the slider and the rest of this page — nutrition, pairings — re-scores with it.

Preparing