Foods that heal – Canistel

There are several foods that have amazing healing properties not just having nutrients and vitamins but elements that help cure ailments.

I have this fruit growing in my garden which is not quite common. Canistel also commonly known as egg fruit is packed with goodness. It contains vitamin A and C and a few other trace elements. Most importantly it has niacin which is a natural bad cholesterol reducer. Research is still on to find out more about this fruit and its health benefits.

Canistel is a tropical fruit  mostly seen in Asia and not many are aware of the goodness of this fruit. 

It is called egg fruit as it tastes exactly like the boiled yolk of the egg to which sugar is added. 

Not many like its taste as it does not have a pleasant smell,  but it can be used as an ingredient in desserts such as puddings, ice cream and pies. This news that it can be used as ingredient is not wide spread.

The tree grows to a height of just around 10 to 12 feet and has the leaves that resemble the leaf of a mango tree. Birds are not attracted to this fruit. It has a season for it to yield and normally it is around the rainy season.

The tendency for the fruit is to split when it is fully ripe and fall off the tree. One therefore needs to keep a vigil and pluck the fruit before this happens. It turns yellow and that is the time to pluck it. It will get ready in keeping after a few days’ time. The fully ripe fruits could also be frozen for future use.

Propagation is done through seeds. The fruit has large seeds not more than two in each fruit. The seeds  take days to germinate.  These trees are easy to grow and do not need much attention.