Black sapote

Taxobox
name = Black Sapote


image_width = 250 px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Ebenaceae
genus = "Diospyros"
species = "D. digyna"
binomial = "Diospyros digyna"
binomial_authority = Jacq.

Black sapote ("Diospyros digyna") is a species of Persimmon native to eastern Mexico and Central America south to Colombia. Mature trees can grow to over 25 m in height and are evergreen. The leaves are elliptic-oblong, tapered at both ends, glossy, and 10-30 cm long. Black sapote fruit are tomato-like and measure 5-10 cm in diameter, with an inedible skin which turns from olive to a deep yellow-green when ripe and an edible, brown pulp whose flavor and texture are often likened to chocolate pudding. ^{[http://www.flickr.com/photos/shimmertje/1200587734/ photo]}

The "black Sapote" is also called the "Chocolate pudding fruit" and "zapote prieto".

Black sapote is unrelated to the mamey sapote (Sapotaceae), and the white sapote (Rutaceae).

The fruit is seasonal and may be difficult to find. When in Mexico City, the fruit markets of Coyoacan are a good place to find Sapote Negro, as it is locally known. The fruit by itself has somewhat of a bland flavor, but is delicious in a concoction of its pulp, orange juice and honey.

References

* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?14280 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Diospyros digyna"]