Black sapote

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Black Sapote
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ebenales Family: Ebenaceae Genus: Diospyros Species: D. digyna
Binomial name
Diospyros digyna 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.

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.

[edit] References

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Diospyros digyna