A Fruit We Have Ignored Since Birth

@salonga (27775)
Philippines
November 25, 2015 9:43pm CST
When I was a child, we had a very fruitful star fruit in the backyard. But no one among us like the fruit so that its fruit would just fall one after the other. My mother would always sweep them and put them in the garbage. No one among us was interested to eat star fruit. It is just juicy and mildly sour and nothing special unlike our favorite carabao mangoes. Then one day, my cousins from the city arrived and when they saw the fruitful star fruit they jumped with joy. They picked the fruits, washed and sliced them thinly then they sprinkled salt and they all sat down in circle and feasted on the star fruits. I and my playmates were secretly smiling and asking each other this question: “How could they enjoy star fruit that much?” Have you been ignoring certain fruits?
31 people like this
34 responses
@birjudanak (14320)
• India
26 Nov 15
its good fruits and we eat from our childhood and still eat by as you described.its very good in test and we sometimes take in breakfast or sometimes with salad.its very famous here. we call it "KAMARAK".we have here come in color green,i never see in yellow.
3 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
Kamarak! We call it in our native language, Balimbing. Yes it is green in color but when it ripens, it is very light yellow.
2 people like this
@birjudanak (14320)
• India
26 Nov 15
@salonga oh we moslty eat while it green and its very testy while it cold and just little salt put on it.sometimes feel that jelly.
3 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
@birjudanak Really! You love its taste! You are very much like my cousins. But me and the other people in the neighborhood don't pay attention to this fruit.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
26 Nov 15
Star fruit is one fruit I have not eaten. I would like to try it. It is not as available where I live.
3 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
I wish I could send you a basket of this.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
Oh i love that fruit - balimbing in Tagalog . When our tree of that bear fruits , even if they haven't ripened yet , my mother would already pick them . She would eat it with a vinegar with salt as dip. So delicious indeed , because it's my way of eating it also.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
Yes they are balimbing my friend. So you are like my cousins from Manila. They were only putting salt and enjoying it already.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
@SIMPLYD I think I will enjoy it more if I juice up and add to other fresh fruits juices. Actually to me, it tastes almost the same as camias although it is not as sour. Do you know camias or what others call kalamyas? I attached a photo here.
3 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
@salonga Don't you find it delicious to eat . I do, specially when it's ripe already - so sweet and delicious , i am actually salivating now .
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
26 Nov 15
I love star fruit.. we have two kinds the really sweet ones and the sour ones .. I would never eat the sour ones until Mom in law sent me a jar of pickled star fruit. Now I buy them and pickle them myself.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
Pickled star fruits taste better. I do enjoy them better than the fresh ones.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
@sofssu I have not eaten a sweet star fruit yet, maybe when already yellow and ripe. I have not tried.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
26 Nov 15
@salonga I like eating the sweet ones.. we had a few tree at the university hostel near my room.. I would always pick up a fruit or two after my meal.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 15
I've never tried starfruit, in fact I don't think I've even seen one.
3 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
It is a tropical fruit so I understand.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341752)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Nov 15
I guess you still don't like star fruit? They sell them here sometimes but I don't think I've ever tried them.
3 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
My taste has not changed I still don't like this fruit but if pickled, I do eat them.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
27 Nov 15
We like to try new fruits and vegetables. I like star fruit but it is not available often.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
It's a tropical fruit so I understand why this is not always available in your country.
1 person likes this
@youless (112561)
• Guangzhou, China
26 Nov 15
The star fruit is quite a common fruit here. We enjoy eating it. I don't know why you are not interested in it, perhaps the star fruit is very sour in your side?
2 people like this
@youless (112561)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Nov 15
@salonga Perhaps you just don't get used to this fruit since you were a child. So you don't like it much after you grow up.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
@youless yes I was never used to eating and am not really fond of sour fruits except raw mango that I love so much.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
No, not really sour. It is mildly sour and watery so I find no excitement in eating it.
1 person likes this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
26 Nov 15
The taste of this fruit is sour that may be the reason many ignore this one. I remember, in childhood we used to eat before it ripen with salt. It was a habit among children but elders kept away from the same. But it used for making curry and pickles by some smart mothers at that time. I have seen jackfruit is ignored this way as it were available plenty on season.
2 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
26 Nov 15
@salonga yes, but when there is so much, who is taking pain to work this much. All do maximum benefits by making fry, jam etc.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
@Sreekala The businessmen here take pain so that they are earning good money out of jackfruits but me I have not much patience so I normally sell them to them. I leave only a fruit or two that I share with relatives. I actually like their seeds only. I boil them and eat like peanuts.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
Yes you are right, it is sour and can cause stomach ache to those who are not used to eating sour fruits. Making it into curry or pickles is certainly a very smart idea. Jackfruits also give so much fruits which are too much for a family to consume. The fruits can however be canned as sweetened jackfruits or can be used to make candies, and also added to desserts so we always sell the fruits in the market.
2 people like this
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
26 Nov 15
I've not seen that one before. Did you decide to copy your cousins?
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
I did eat a couple of slices but did not really enjoy the way they did.
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
I miss eating that fruit! Sarap (delicious). Can you send some my way?
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Your wish is my command. I am sending you a crate today.
1 person likes this
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
29 Nov 15
@salonga can you add guavas, guyabano, and star apple? We can't seem to get those fruits anymore. Kids just know apples, oranges, and grapes!
@gudheart (12659)
26 Nov 15
Looks lovely Never tried Star Fruit before.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
But do you have this fruit in your place?
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
26 Nov 15
I've never tried this fruit. It does look pretty cool though,and if it is mildly sour it would probably appeal to me. I also think grapefruit is underrated.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Hmmm, it sounds like you will really like this fruit.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
26 Nov 15
I've never had star fruit but I do love fruits. I east them all if they grow in my area.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
If start fruit is common in your area, maybe you will also eat this because the taste is not really bad, it is just not appealing to my taste buds.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
27 Nov 15
Starfruit is good for the throat. i think you have to live in the city for a while to appreciate it. Over here, it can cost a few dollars just to buy a few starfruits to make juice.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Good for the throat! I guess you have just convinced me to eat starfruit if only for this health benefit. Thanks!
@esfes025 (432)
• Elkhart, Indiana
26 Nov 15
Starfruit off of a tree is my favorite fruit... and I have not had it since I moved from Florida.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Your favorite? I wish I could send you some.
@esfes025 (432)
• Elkhart, Indiana
27 Nov 15
@salonga yeah Up here they are not the same if you by them in the store.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
26 Nov 15
It just goes to show that we are all different in our tastes and what we like.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
26 Nov 15
Exactly! We can't be the same even in likes and dislikes.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
29 Nov 15
@salonga Very true. Even if you have a lot in common with someone, there is always going to be something that you like that they don't and things you dislike that they like.
@Fleura (30539)
• United Kingdom
19 Mar 18
Star fruit are 'exotic' over here, but they are available. I have tried them and they are OK, not worth paying a high price for but when sliced they do look nice and add to a dish that way!
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
20 Mar 18
Yes, slicing them and adding to a dish makes nicer and also enticing.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Hmm. I don't i have one. Heje
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Do you like? You can just pick the one in my photo.
@brokenbee (11090)
• Philippines
30 Nov 15
Whoa! I would love to have that fruit in our backyard. I used to let my mother buy some when we see that fruit in the market.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
6 Jan 16
So you mean you like eating this fruit! I wish I can send you a basket of star fruits.