Atis Fruit

Over here in the Philippines, we have seen so many different kinds of tropical fruits. The atis fruit is one of them. Apparently they are in season right now because almost every vendor lining the streets here in Angeles City sells them.

Eventually, our curiosity got the better of us, and we finally tasted this unique fruit. (Also, because we live on “Atis Street,” we really wanted to try it.:->) So, since we branched out and tried something new, we just wanted to share with you what this new fruit was like.:-)

This atis fruit (also known as Sugar apple) was quite delicious! You wouldn’t think so at first glance with its lumpy, pinecone-like texture covering the outside. Even though this is a tropical fruit, it was not at all sour or citrus-like. The taste reminded us of a grape, and the texture almost felt like custard.

Also, it was very easy to eat. The abundant crevices of the skin made it effortless to peel. By simply pulling on one of them the fruit opened up.

On the inside, numerous little black seeds were lined in rows and covered with a thin, fleshy layer of fruit. All we had to do was pinch off a section, suck off the fruit, throw the seed away, and keep some napkins handy. ;-) (It can be quite juicy)

Whenever we try new fruits or vegetables over here, we also like to find tidbits of information about them. So, here are some interesting facts about the atis fruit
- It is a good source of iron.
- Here in the Philippines, the atis fruit is commonly eaten by a Fruit Bat, which in turn spreads the seeds from island to island
- Some people in the world use the seeds to help treat lice. They grind the seeds and apply it to their hair, but since the mixture can be highly irritable and can cause blindness, it is important to keep it away from the eyes.

Now that we have tried a new kind of fruit, perhaps we should branch out even more for next time.:-) Maybe we’ll be brave enough to try baloot…. On second thought, we’ll have to think about that one. ;-)