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What Does Sapote Taste Like [+ Quick Intro to All Varieties]

two pieces of black sapote

Sapote is a fruit of many names, colors and tastes. It’s also a fruit that’s jam-packed with flavor!

(Plus, it’s a fruit that really screams that looks aren’t everything. Do NOT get discouraged when you look at it!)

The rich and unique flavor of this Caribbean fruit has made it popular in tropical climates. And, with global trade, sapote has quickly made its way around the world.

Sapote is a fruit that tastes sweet and chocolatey. Although unrelated to the cacao plant, you’ll still pick up on the nutty and dark chocolate notes of the fruit.

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What Does Sapote Taste Like


The taste of a sapote actually depends on the specific type of sapote, as there are several different varieties! Here’s a breakdown of the two most common ones:

Mamey Sapote:

  • Primary Flavors: Often described as a mix of sweet potato, pumpkin, and caramel. You might also pick up hints of honey, cantaloupe, and cinnamon.
  • Texture: Soft and creamy, similar to avocado when ripe.
  • Overall: Rich, sweet, and complex.

Black Sapote:

  • Primary Flavors: Nicknamed the “chocolate pudding fruit” for a reason! It has a strong taste of dark chocolate, with earthy undertones. Some people also detect hints of coffee, molasses, and sweet potato.
  • Texture: Soft and pudding-like when ripe.
  • Overall: Rich, deeply chocolatey, and unique.

Other Sapote Varieties:

  • White Sapote: Milder flavor, compared to mamey sapote, often described as sweet and milky with hints of honey and coconut.
  • Canistel: Sweet and eggy flavor, resembling custard or sweet potato.
  • Chempedak: Tart and sweet, with a milky aroma and texture similar to jackfruit.

Important Note: These are just general descriptions, and individual tastes can vary! Remember, taste is subjective. The best way to find out what you think of sapote is to try it yourself!

What Is Sapote? 

Sapote, sometimes spelled zapote, is a tropical fruit that’s native to South and Central America. The fruit is known under many names, including: 

  • Mamee zapote
  • Mamee sapote
  • Zapotemamee sapote
  • Mamey colorado
  • Lavaa zapote
  • Grosse sapote
  • Red mamey
  • Mamey sapote
  • Mammee apple
  • Mamey rojo
  • Mammea americana

The fruit is often eaten fresh, blended into juices, or even made into ice cream.

Types of Sapote

There are several different types of sapote, eac with its own unique characteristics. Let’s check out a few of the more common varieties of this unique fruit. 

White Sapote

What Does Sapote Taste Like
Image credit: Takoradee, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

White sapote is sometimes referred to as a Mexican apple. The plant is native to Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvaador, and Costa Rica and grows on trees in the Rutacea family. 

Its alternative name doesn’t lie: white sapote does resemble an apple due to its round shape and green or yellow skin. The fruit has a soft flesh that perishes easily, but you can store it in the refrigerator to help it last longer.

And if you think it looks like a round, unremarkable pear, you wouldn’t be too wrong – at least where the taste is concerned. To be more precise, the flavor of white sapote is somewhere in between banana or pear. Not bad, eh?

It’s sometimes called “sleeping sapote” because its seeds contain a narcotic. I know what you’re thinking right now, but bear in mind that, but the seeds are NOT eaten. In fact, there are claims that they are very toxic if you eat them raw.

Black Sapote

The brown flesh of black sapote isn’t exactly mouthwatering – not until you try it.

This type of sapotte is native to Southern Colombia and Mexico. It’s thought to be the original variety of ancient Aztetc sapote!

Today, growers cultivate this plant in warmer climates such as in California. It’s often referred to as the chocolate pudding fruit thanks to its rich brown, cocoa flavored flesh.

Black Sapote Taste Like
Green on the outside, chocolatey on the inside

So no, it isn’t brown because it’s rotten.

Black sapote is best eaten ripe as they can be quite bitter when unripe. When they’re ready to eat, they have a greenish-yellow exterior and a dark brown interior.

Yellow Sapote

This sapote is native to Mexico and Central America and is sometimes called the Canistel.

Yellow sapote has a yellow-orange fruit that can grow to as much as 7 centimeters in length! The fruit has a sweet taste and is the same color as the yolk of a hardboiled egg. 

Yellow Sapote Taste

Thanks to its unique color flesh, the fruit has coined the name “eggfruit”. It’s an evergreen plant that grows mainly in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador.

Ross Sapote

Care for some caramel after you feasted on chocolate sapote?

There’s a variety for that too! 

Ross sapote is a fruit that is large in size, round, and has a yellow-orange skin. Its flesh is very soft and has a caramel aroma and flavor. 

Ross sapote is a very fast-growing variety of sapote. It’s a close relative to the Canistel variety of sapote, and is popular thanks to its sweet and mild flavor.

Mamey Sapote

What Does Mamey Sapote Taste Like

Mamey sapote can be found mostly in northern South America, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. It’s the largest variety of sapote out there and is one of the most well-known, too. 

You’ll sometimes find this sapote sold under the name Pouteria Sapota. It has a texture similar to that of grapefruit when ripe, or coconut before it matures. 

South American

Your kid is gonna LOVE this one when you tell them that it’s also called Chupa Chupa. Apart from a fabulous native name, this fruit has a yellow-orange flesh that’s sweet in taste and smooth.

The South American sapote comes from a variety of flowering plants known as Malvaceaae. The fruit is native to the Amazon rainforest, and can be found in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Colombia. 

Just because it’s named Southern American sapote doesn’t mean you can’t find it in other parts of the world, however. The University of Florida currently has a cultivation project for growing this variety of sapote. 

Green Sapote

Green sapote is scientifically called Pouteria viridis, and is a flowering plant. The sapote is closely related to many other varieties of sapote, but is much smaller than more common varieties. 

The skin of green sapote isn’t all that green after all: it’s either red-orange, green-yellow, or brownish. It is a variety that is well known outside of South America, and is more commonly found in Asia. 

Unlike some of its cousins, the seeds of the green sapote are edible. The fruit is most commonly used for making delicious desserts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Sapote Fruit in English?

The word Sapote comes from an indigenous South American language, Nahuatl Tzapotl. The word means soft edible fruit. Despite the fact that this word isn’t actually English, the fruit is commonly known around the world as Sapote. 

Are Sapote Seeds Poisonous?

The seeds of certain types of zapote are poisonous if eaten. Black and white sapote seeds, for example, contain neurotoxins that harm the body if you consume them. However, the seeds of other varieties of sapote don’t contain any toxins and are safe for chewing or sucking on.

Where Can I Find Sapote?

Unless you live in South America, it’ll be pretty tough to find sapote in the local supermarkets. The good news is that it’s not too hard to find these fruits in international markets. Specialty food shops will also occasionally have a few varieties of sapote for sale.

Conclusion

In conclusion, exploring the unique and exotic flavor of sapote is a delightful journey for the taste buds. The diverse varieties of sapote offer a spectrum of tastes, from the sweet and custard-like notes of black sapote to the tropical and pear-like flavors of mamey sapote. This lesser-known fruit introduces a refreshing and delectable experience that transcends the ordinary.

Whether you’re a seasoned food enthusiast or someone looking to expand their palate, trying sapote is a culinary adventure worth embarking on. Its velvety texture and rich, complex taste make it a standout ingredient in various dishes, from desserts to savory concoctions.

As you savor the distinct taste of sapote, it becomes evident that this fruit is not just a treat for the senses but also a testament to the incredible diversity found in the world of fruits. So, if you ever come across sapote in your local market or during your travels, don’t hesitate to give it a try and embark on a flavorful escapade that might just become a new favorite.

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