Pouteria sapota, the mamey sapote, is a species of tree native to Mexico and Central America. The tree is also cultivated in the Caribbean. Its fruit is eaten in many Latin American countries. The fruit is made into foods such as milkshakes and ice cream. Some of its names in Latin American countries, such as mamey colorado (Cuba), zapote colorado (Costa Rica) and zapote rojo (South America), refer to the reddish colour of its flesh to distinguish it from the unrelated but similar-looking Mammea americana, whose fruit is usually called "yellow mamey". The Australian and Queensland governments' research and development programs have grown mamey sapote in Australia.

Description

Mamey sapote is a large and highly ornamental evergreen tree that can reach a height of 15 to 45 m at maturity. It is mainly propagated by grafting, which ensures the new plant has the same characteristics as the parent, especially its fruit, as it does not grow true to seed. It is also considerably faster than growing trees by seed, producing fruit in 3–5 years; trees grown from seed require 7 years of growth before fruiting. In Florida, the fruit is harvested from May to July with some cultivars available all year. The fruit, technically a berry, is about 10 to 25 cm long and 8 to 12 cm wide and has flesh ranging in color from pink to orange to red. The brown skin has a texture somewhat between sandpaper and the fuzz on a peach. The fruit's texture is creamy and soft, and the flavor is a mix of sweet potato, pumpkin, honey, prune, peach, apricot, cantaloupe, cherry, and almond. A mamey sapote is ripe when the flesh is vibrant salmon in color when a fleck of the skin is removed. The flesh should give slightly, as with an overripe avocado. The leaves are pointed at both ends, 4 to 12 inches in length, and grow in clusters at the ends of branches. The mamey sapote is related to other sapotes such as sapodilla (Manilkara zapota), abiu (P. caimito), and canistel (P. campechiana), but unrelated to the black sapote (Diospyros digyna) and white sapote (Casimiroa edulis).

Uses

The fruit is eaten raw or made into milkshakes, smoothies, ice cream, and fruit bars. It can be used to produce marmalade and jelly. It can also be fried like bacon. Some beauty products use oil pressed from the seed, otherwise known as sapayul oil.

Nutrition

The fruit is an excellent source of vitamins B6 and C, and is a good source of riboflavin, niacin, vitamin E, manganese, potassium, and dietary fiber. Research has identified several new carotenoids from the ripe fruit.

Synonyms

• Achras mammosa Bonpl. ex Miq. nom. illeg. • Achras zapota var. major Jacq. • Bassia jussaei Griseb. • Bassia jussiaei Tussac • Calocarpum huastecanum Gilly • Calocarpum mammosum var. bonplandii (Kunth) Pierre • Calocarpum mammosum var. candollei (Pierre) Pierre • Calocarpum mammosum var. ovoideum (Pierre) Pierre • Calocarpum sapota (Jacq.) Merr. • Calospermum mammosum var. bonplandii (Kunth) Pierre • Calospermum mammosum var. candollei Pierre • Calospermum mammosum var. ovoidea Pierre • Calospermum parvum Pierre • Lucuma bonplandiiv Kunth • Sapota mammosa Mill. • Sideroxylon sapota Jacq. • Sideroxylum sapota Jacq.