Star fruit, or carambola, is a tropical citrus fruit that is native to Southeast Asia.Green when unripe and a warm yellow when ready to eat, this unique fruit gets its name from its sliced cross-section which looks like a five-pointed star! Along with its beautiful appearance, this fruit has an amazing taste as well.Star fruit has a sweet and juicy, bordering on slightly floral, with a tangy citrus hit. Star fruits are very good for you and can be eaten whole, including their seeds and peel. Many people enjoy the ripe, yellow fruit more than the sour green one, as the taste and texture change drastically. Though the unripe fruit is edible, the ripe one is preferred due to its delicate balance of flavors. It can also be used in savory and sweet dishes, and can also be eaten raw, making it quite a versatile fruit indeed! So, enjoy a slice of this refreshing fruit and read on to learn more!Is star fruit similar to pineapple?Star fruit, also called carambola, is a long, ridged fruit that creates star-shaped slices when cut! This tropical fruit is native to Asia and is a favorite among fruit lovers for its sweet, tangy flavors and funky shape. It is commonly exported and people eat this fruit in many parts of the world like the United States, Brazil, and Micronesia!Though the fruit itself does not resemble any other fruit like pineapple, grapefruit, or orange in appearance, it has a unique taste that is said to resemble a combination of a pear, orange, kiwi, apple, and grapefruit. Similar to most tropical fruits, it also has a mild acidity, which is comparable to that of the pineapple fruit. The taste is sweet and floral, making it a fun, fresh addition to your diet!In texture, a star fruit is similar to a grape, with its sweet, fleshy insides and crisp, smooth skin. Each bite has a tart, juicy burst, and eating a star fruit that has fully ripened is an experience like no other.If you want to see what a star fruit tastes like, then check out your local Asian market. Being a tropical fruit found mostly in Asia, this delightful fruit features in many local dishes and can easily be found in Asian supermarkets. You can eat this fruit fresh for up to three days, after which it can stay in the refrigerator for a week. You can also slice and freeze it, and it stays good for a few months!What does unripe star fruit taste like?Though you can eat green, unripe star fruit as well, it is not usually as nice as it is firmer and crisper than the completely ripe ones. Unripe star fruit has an undesirable texture, similar to that of unripe pears and apples. It also has a sour, citrusy taste, which can be very overwhelming without the accompanying sweetness to balance it out. If you buy a green star fruit, don’t fret, just leave it out at room temperature for a couple of days and it will turn yellow in no time!You will know when star fruits are unripe because of their dark green color. Once they start to ripen, they will slowly turn into a warm, yellow color, which is when they taste the best! Smaller fruits are usually more tart than bigger ones. Star fruit tastes the best raw and can be sliced horizontally into star-shaped pieces, giving this fruit its iconic name.What are the benefits of star fruit?A star fruit is a citrusy, tropical fruit that can be consumed in a variety of way. However, it tastes the best in its raw, natural form. Along with being sweet and tasty, did you know that this juicy fruit is also very good for you?Star fruit is very low in calories and can be incorporated easily into a number of healthy dishes like juice, fruit salads, smoothies, and acai bowls. Its beautiful appearance makes it very tempting to eat as well.Ripe star fruit is rich in a number of vitamins and minerals and has a good level of antioxidants as well. It contains fiber, which helps to soak up extra toxins and water in the body and makes them easier to dispose of, reducing the chances of bloating. Fiber also helps to promote the smooth movement of waste products through the digestive tract, which prevents constipation, bloating, and other digestive problems.It is extremely healthy, and eating this fruit regularly can help increase metabolism, making it a must-have for people looking to lose weight. Its tart, citrusy flavor isn’t all talk either. The vitamin C it provides greatly boosts your immunity and prevents you from falling sick. It increases the natural production of white blood cells in the body, which helps to ward off any unwanted illnesses. The antioxidants, along with vitamins B and C are very good for the skin and hair, leaving them shiny and glowing!It also contains good levels of calcium, potassium, and sodium, which are very good for the heart. These minerals act as electrolytes, which help to regulate blood pressure and blood flow throughout the body, relieving pressure on the heart. They also help to reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of a fatty liver.However, like all other good things, the delicious star fruit should not be consumed in excess either. This fruit also contains a high amount of oxalates, which can cause adverse reactions in people who suffer from kidney stones or other ailments. Eating too much star fruit can also accumulate neurotoxins in the body, which may cause neurological disorders and negatively affect the brain.So, having fresh star fruits is a good excuse to enjoy a juice or your favorite fruit salad. After all, they are extremely important for your health! Just be careful to incorporate them in limited amounts, as with every other food you eat.Can you eat star fruit skin?Yes, you most definitely can! Similar to grapes, apples, and pears, star fruit has a thin, waxy skin which can be eaten along with the fruit once properly washed. The ridges on a star fruit can make the intact fruit quite difficult to peel, however, if you like to eat the fruit without the skin you can cut it off the individual slice.Ripe star fruits just have to be rinsed and cut, and then they can be enjoyed, skin, seeds, and all! As the fruit is long, it must be cut along its length, like a banana. Though the seeds are edible, they can be quite hard (like the seeds of a guava) and can be removed easily if you don’t wish to consume them.Star fruits can be enjoyed by themselves, or be mixed in with apples, oranges and a variety of other fruits in a refreshing fruit salad. These tasty sweet fruits also make great jams and can be added to smoothies or ice teas for a refreshing kick. Similar to oranges, they can be used in cakes, juices, salads, and many other dishes, because of their similar tart, citrusy profile. This fruit can be also used in savory dishes, in chutney or sauce form, or as a raw accompaniment.
Star fruit, or carambola, is a tropical citrus fruit that is native to Southeast Asia.
