April 22, 2013

• Cambodia’s Star Apple

  

  I got curious. I pointed my finger to them red round things that caught my eye and said “What are those?”
  “Plae Teuk Dah” he answered.
  “What?” I frowned. “Say that again?”
  “PLAE TEUK DAH” he repeated.
  I looked at my tour guide with confusion written all over my face.
  He read my expression and understood, and said “Star Apple, or sometimes named Milk Fruit”.
  “I see, well, I want those. I want to try them. I never seen them before. Could we? Just for a little bit. And we could get something to drink as well” I said enthusiastically.
  “Yes” he nodded.
  And so he followed me across the dusty orange street to the street stall selling beverages, where on their table lay a large bowl of red round fruits.

  We got ourselves a spot where there was an empty wooden table and bench. The sun was blazing away. It was scorching hot. We just got out from one of the many Angkor temples we visited that day, and we were tired. I had us ordered fresh coconut to quench our thirst. It was what the doctor ordered. Then I went to touch the fruit.

  It was firm, but not hard. It had a slight softness to it when I pressed it firmly. It was the size of slightly smaller than a tennis ball. The lady vendor picked one for me and quickly cut it open and served it with a toothpick, and in a plastic bag. I took it out of the bag and examined it. It didn't smell much, other than a slight fruity sweetness. But it looked familiar. This burgundy-purple-pink-red fruit resembled few tropical fruits I’ve had before.

  I took a bite. The texture resembled that of a peach and a sapodilla. Solid softness with a touch of juiciness that one can feel as one’s teeth dig deep, with no crunch factor. Flavor wise, it’s a cross between a mangosteen, a persimmon, and a plum. Sticky sweetness that is not sugary nor it is fragrantly strong. But it was pleasantly sweet and juicy, enough to make me wonder why we don't get to see this fruit more often in South East Asian regions.

  

  I googled this fruit upon my return from Siem Reap trip. What I found explained that the fruit when cut up half way horizontally, the inner flesh middle section resembles the shape of a star. That’s why it’s called Star Apple. But many of its cousins are found with milky white interior flesh, thus called Milk Fruit. Another name for this fruit that I came across from the google search is Madagascar Plum. I like the sound of that. Very sophisticated, yet still tropical. I began to wonder what nutritional benefits might this fruit have, as many fruits do. If only we could get this where I live. Such a pleasant fruit to savor to kill time.

  • 11:37 am
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