Are custard apples the same as sugar apples? Or are sugar apples the same as custard apples? Stop the confusion; in this article, you will learn which fruit is which and the similarities and differences between the sugar apple and custard apple fruit.
Is custard apple the same as sugar apple?
No, custard apple (Annona reticulata) is not the same as sugar apple (Annona squamosa). Both fruits are part of the Annonaceae fruit family but are different species of trees that produce entirely different fruits.
Sugar apple
The sugar apple (Annona squamosa) fruit is a fruit that comes from the sugar apple tree.
The sugar apple fruit is called sugar apple in the United States of America, but in other parts of the world, sugar apple (Annona squamosa). The sugar apple fruit gets confused with the custard apple in the United States.
Sugar apple fruit is known as Mang cau na dai in Vietnamese. Sugar apple fruit is called Annona or Anon in Colombia and other South-American countries. It is also called Sweetsop by the people of the Caribbean and Atis by the Philippines. In India, sugar apple is called sitaphal.
In South America, the sugar apple (Annona squamosa) may be referred to as ‘chirimoya’ which can be confusing, but it’s not to be confused with Cherimoya (Annona cherimola).
The sugar apple tree looks different from the custard apple tree. Some of the most noticeable differences are in the leaves and bark of the sugar apple.
Some sugar apple varieties include ‘Na Dai Vietnamese,’ ‘Thai Lessard, ‘Thai Golden Sugar Apple,’ and ‘Thai Purple Sugar Apple.’
For more information on growing sugar apples check out this article on how to grow sugar apples.
Custard apple
The custard apple (Annona reticulata) fruit is a fruit that comes from the custard apple tree.
The custard apple fruit is called custard apple in the United States of America. Still, in other parts of the world, the custard apple (Annona reticulata) may refer to the sugar apple (Annona squamosa).
In different parts of the world, the term “custard apple” is used to classify multiple fruits of the Annonaceae family.
In India, for example, if you ask for a custard apple, you will receive a sugar apple (Annona squamosa). On the other hand, if you were to ask for a custard apple in Australia, you would receive an atemoya (Annona atemoya).
The custard apple (Annona reticulata) fruit looks similar but is different from the sugar apple (Annona squamosa).
In Florida, some common varieties of custard apples are ‘Bullock’s heart,’ ‘Fernandez,’ ‘Sartaneja,’ ‘Havana,’ or ‘Vino Tinto.’
Is the custard apple or sugar apple better?
The custard apple (Annona reticulata) compared to the sugar apple (Annona squamosa) are hard fruits to say one is better than the other due to both fruits being delicious and sweet.
Some prefer the custard apple (Annona reticulata) due to its creamy and grainy texture. Its fruit grows significantly larger than a sugar apple (Annona squamosa).
On the other hand, other prefer the sugar apple (Annona squamosa) for its chewy and sweet flesh. The sugar apple also has a juicy pulp that tastes like a tropical custard.
What are the main differences between custard apples and sugar apples?
How can I tell custard apple apart from sugar apple?
Custard apple (Annona reticulata) appearance is smooth on the surface and typically comes in a red, orange, or brown-reddish color.
How can I tell a sugar apple apart from a custard apple?
The sugar apple’s (Annona squamosa) appearance is bumpy, and its surface is covered in knobby-like green scales.
Sugar apples may come in colors such as green, purple and yellow.
What are the similarities between the custard apple and the sugar apple?
Similarities of the custard apple and sugar apple are that they are both delicious fruits apart of the Annonaceae family.
Both custard apple (A. reticulata) and sugar apple (A.squamosa) are deciduous trees in the winter and grow excellently in low-elevation climates such as Florida.
The custard apple and sugar apple can grow in various colors, such as red, green, and yellow.
Is the custard apple healthier than the sugar apple?
Both fruits of the Annonaceae family provide excellent nutrition for the body. If you can grow both Annona trees custard apple (A. reticulata) and sugar apple (A. squamosa), it is highly recommended to include both in your diet.
Conclusion
Sugar apple and custard apple are two completely different fruits used to describe often the same fruit. Botanically speaking, the sugar apple is Annona squamosa, while the custard apple is Annona reticulata.
Both fruits are part of the Annonaceae family but have entirely different appearances, colors, tree shapes, and tastes.
Around the world, custard apple may refer to many fruits of the Annonaceae fruit family, including sugar apple and custard apple.
If you want to be sure you are referring to the custard apple or sugar apple, it’s always recommended to include their botanical names so there is no confusion.
Sugar apple is Annona squamosa and Custard apple is Anona reticulata.
