Sugar apple, cherimoya, custard apple – are they the same fruit? Many people confuse them with the same fruit, But they are actually three different fruits.
In this article, we will find the similarities and differences between the sugar apple, custard apple, and cherimoya and how to tell them apart.
Before we start, around the world these three fruits are often used to refer to one another. In some places such as Colombia, where all three fruits grow in abundance – sugar apple, custard apple, and cherimoya are all called ‘chirimoya,’ so you can imagine how confusing it can be when you want to buy a sugar apple but are given a cherimoya – or even a custard apple!
The topic of sugar apple, custard apple, and cherimoya is often brought up as someone calls a cherimoya a custard apple, or custard apple a sugar apple, or sugar apple a custard apple.
This article will identify which fruit is which and see the key differences and similarities of these three Annonaceae tropical fruits.
Before we go one, each fruit has a unique botanical name that identifies who they truly are.
Sugar apple is botanically known as Annona squamosa
Custard apple is botanically known as Annona reticulata
Cherimoya is botanically known as Annona cherimola
Similarities Between Sugar Apple, Custard Apple, and Cherimoya:
Sugar apple, Custard apple, and cherimoya all belong to the Annonaceae family of fruits.
They are all tropical fruits native to Central and South America but are now widely grown in other tropical regions of the world.
These fruits are all sweet and have a similar flavor profile, with a creamy and custardy texture. They are also all rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
All three fruit trees are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves in the winter and regrow new leaves and flower buds in the spring.
Differences Between Sugar Apple, Custard Apple, and Cherimoya:
Sugar Apple:
Sugar apple, also known as sweetsop, Anon, Annona, Sitaphal, and Mang cau dai.
It is a medium to large tropical fruit with bumpy green or purple skin.
The fruit’s flesh is white and creamy, with black non-edible seeds scattered throughout.
The flavor is sweet and fruity, with a light touch of acidity.
The texture can be grainy and custardy in specific cultivars, such as the ‘Lessard Thai’ sugar apple.
Other cultivars like the’ Na Dai Vietnamese’ sugar apple can be less grainy and more custardy and chewy.
The graininess is similar to a pear towards the skin of the sugar apple.
Sugar apples are usually eaten fresh but can be used in desserts and ice creams as sugar apple ice cream, a famous ice cream in India.
Custard Apple:
Custard apple (Annona reticulata), also known as bullock’s heart, Cuban chirimoya (Not be confused with the real cherimoya ‘Annona cherimola’) is a medium to large-sized tropical fruit with a brown to smooth red skin.
The custard apple (Annona reticulata) flesh is white and creamy, with black non-edible seeds scattered throughout.
The flavor is sweet, slightly chewy, and custardy, with a hint of mango and banana.
The texture is soft and custardy, similar to a custard dessert.
Custard apples are usually eaten fresh but can also be used in desserts, milkshakes, and smoothies.
Cherimoya:
Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) is a large tropical fruit with smooth to bumpy green skin.
The fruit’s flesh is white and creamy, with black non-edible seeds scattered throughout.
The flavor is sweet, sour, and tropical, with a hint of pineapple, banana, and coconut.
The texture is soft and custardy, similar to a ripe banana.
Cherimoyas are usually eaten fresh and can be used in desserts, sorbets, and ice creams.
How to Tell the Difference:
While sugar apple, custard apple, and cherimoya may look similar at first glance, there are a few differences that can help you tell them apart:
Sugar apple
Sugar apple is the bumpiest and most prominent scales. It is easily recognized as cherimoya and custard apple due to its bumpy green skin.
Sugar apple (Annona squamosa) has a chewy and grainy texture, while custard apple (Annona reticulata) and Cherimoya (Annona cherimola) have a soft and smooth taste.
The leaves on the sugar apple tree are thin and slender with pointed tips.
Custard apple
The custard apple is medium to large and has smooth brown to red skin on the fruit’s exterior while growing on the tree.
When ripening, the custard apple (Annona reticulata) has a deep red to orange skin, depending on the cultivar.
The custard apple is easily recognized inside because it has deep red to pink/white flesh.
The custard apple leaves are dark green and slender with a pointed tip. They are thinner than sugar apple (Annona squamosa) leaves.
Cherimoya
The bumps or points on the fruit quickly identify cherimoya fruits.
Its skin can range from a dark to light green tone with prominent bumps and smooth scales depending on the cultivar of Cherimoya (Annona cherimola).
Cherimoya fruits can have a hybrid of both scales and points, which makes them easy to tell apart. The leaf on the cherimoya tree is very oval and large and is another easy way to distinguish them from the sugar and custard apple.
The cherimoya fruit can be grown at higher elevations than the sugar apple (A. squamosa).
The Cherimoya (A. cherimola) is known as ‘The sugar apple of the highlands’ as they can be grown from 2,300 ft to 7,900 ft above sea level. The sugar apple (A. squamosa) is grown better at lower elevations than cherimoya.
The cherimoya leaves on a cherimoya tree are oval-shaped and smooth to the touch, and the size of the leaf on a cherimoya (A. cherimola) is much larger than both custard apple (A.reticulata), and sugar apple (A. squamosa) leaves.
FAQs about Sugar apples, Custard apples, and Cherimoyas:
Q: Are sugar apples, custard apples, and cherimoyas good for you?
A: Yes, all three fruits are good for you. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber and can provide several health benefits. Sugar apples are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, while custard apples are high in potassium and vitamin A. Cherimoyas are rich in vitamin C, B6, and antioxidants.
Q: Can you eat the sugar apple, custard apple, and cherimoya seeds?
A: No, the seeds of these fruits are not edible and should be removed before consumption. They contain a toxic compound called annonacin, which can be harmful if consumed, so avoiding eating the skin and seeds of all Annonaceae fruits is a must.
Q: Where can you find the fruit of the sugar apple, custard apple, and cherimoya to buy?
A: You can find them in farmers’ markets like the Pinellas Farmers & Flea Market in Clearwater, Florida.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, sugar apples, custard apples, and cherimoyas are similar in many ways but also have distinct differences.
While they all belong to the same family of plants and have a similar taste and texture, they vary in size, skin texture, and flavor.
Knowing the differences between these fruits can help you choose the right one so you can grow them in your backyard garden and make sure everything is clear when shopping for them.
So, next time you come across these tropical fruits, you will know which is which – try them out and see which is your favorite!
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