Black Sapote, also known as the Chocolate Pudding Fruit or Black Persimmon, is a unique tropical to subtropical fruit tree related to persimmons. Its name reflects the fruit’s appearance rather than its flavor, which resembles vanilla caramel more than chocolate. With the right conditions, it can also be grown successfully in temperate climates.
Black Sapote Taste and Ripeness
Despite the nickname, the taste is sweeter and milder than one might expect, often compared to vanilla or caramel. The fruit’s skin transitions from bright green to a deeper shade with some black spotting as it ripens. The best indication of ripeness is softness to the touch and the fruit’s dark, pudding-like interior.
A popular way to enjoy Black Sapote is by scooping out the pulp and adding a splash of fresh orange juice. It pairs wonderfully with ice cream, can replace banana in banana bread recipes, and even serves as a delicious dessert with a hint of tequila.
Growing Conditions and Care
Optimizing growth requires attention to climate, soil, watering, and fertilizing:
- Climate: Prefers warm, frost-free, and sheltered locations. Although tropical or subtropical, it can adapt to cooler climates if given protection.
- Soil: Requires humus-rich, well-draining soil to prevent root rot.
- Watering: Needs consistent moisture, especially in dry periods, but avoid soggy soil.
- Fertilization: Apply a slow-release organic fertilizer each spring for best results.
- Protection: Shield from cold winds and wet winters to avoid damage.
- Mulching: Use mulch to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature.
Pruning
Minimal pruning is necessary. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches to maintain tree health and manageable size.
Harvesting
In warmer regions, harvests often occur twice a year—summer and winter. Pick fruit before full ripeness when skin color darkens and fruit size is around 3 to 6 inches in diameter. Ripen fruit off the tree by waiting for softness.
Other Sapote Tree Varieties include
- Yellow Sapote (Pouteria campechiana) or Canistel
- White Sapote (Casimiroa edulis)
- Mamey Sapote – Pouteria sapota.
The yellow and black varieties are really sub tropical trees, however in the right conditions they have been grown in coooler climate zones.
White sapote has a sweet fruit that goes well with ice-cream. Yellow sapote is sometimes called ‘egg fruit’, the fruit having the texture of a boiled egg and tastes a little like a cross between passionfruit and paw paw.
Where To Buy
Lot 522 Pavans Access Grassy Head NSW 2441
Fruit trees specialising in Avocados, Custard apples, Persimmons, Jackfruit,Black Sapote and Pomegranates. Online sales and Wholesale.
www.treegrowers.com.au
More Tropical Fruit Trees
