Cherimoya

Also indexed as: Cherimolia, Cherimolier, Chirimolla, Chirimoya

Preparation, uses, and tips

Enjoying fresh cherimoya

Serve cherimoya well chilled, cut it in half lengthways, with the seeds removed and the flesh scooped out with a spoon. It can also be peeled and cubed and added to fruit salads or used as a mousse or pie filling. Some cherimoya fans like to add a sprinkle of lime juice on their fruit.

Frozen cherimoya

Because of its creamy texture, cherimoya can be served frozen and eaten like ice cream.

Keeping cherimoya looking good

To prevent the fruit from darkening, cherimoya pieces can be dipped in lemon or orange juice.

Buying and storing tips

Purchase fruit that’s firm, heavy for its size, and free of skin blemishes. Store at room temperature until ripe—at this time, it will give slightly with soft pressure, feeling much like an almost-ripe avocado. Once ripe, cherimoya can be refrigerated for up to four days, well wrapped in a paper towel.

Varieties

Originally from South America, cherimoya is now grown in other regions with suitable growing conditions, such as New Zealand and California. It is often confused with custard fruit (A. reticulata), another fruit in the same family.

The most common varieties grown in California are:

Bays

Features a smooth creamy pulp, moderate number of seeds and durable skin

Booth

Fragile, but very sweet

Pierce

Heavy, sweet fruit

White

Moderately sweet, with a moderate to low seed count

Nutrition Highlights

Cherimoya, 1 fruit (312g)
Calories: 231
Protein: 5.15g
Carbohydrate: 55.22g
Total Fat: 1.93g
Fiber: 7.2g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (35.9mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires August 2007.