Zapote, its different varieties and benefits

The Zapote is a sweet fruit that we can find in different parts of the American continent , more specifically in Central America and Mexico.

In Spain we have incorporated different types of tropical fruits such as mango , avocado or papaya into our diet , but there are other tropical fruits that we are not aware of or that we do not eat normally, this is the case of sapote .

As a curiosity, the name sapote comes from the Nahuatl language , whose adaptation to Spanish is tzapotl, which means fruit or fruit.

Nahuatl is the language of the Mexicas, also known as Aztecs or Nahuas. ‘Náhuatl’ means ‘soft or sweet language’. Today, the language is spoken by more than 1.5 million Mexicans and more and more people are interested in learning Nahuatl words.

What is sapodilla?

The sapote is one of the most common tropical fruits in Central America. They have different scientific names depending on their varieties, colors and flavors, but always with the same common name: sapote.

We can increasingly find this sweet fruit in different markets around the world , although in Spain it is still not very well known. The sapote is considered for its sweet flavor as ” the chocolate fruit ” that we cannot confuse with cocoa .

As we have already explained, it is a medium-sized tropical fruit that is oval in shape and somewhat flattened at the tips, although depending on the variety, the shape may vary somewhat.

The interior part or pulp is not rough, its flavor is sweet or very sweet, depending on its maturity, and it is very juicy. Inside it can have up to four seeds or more, depending on the variety. The skin contains a lot of fiber , soft and loses the little roughness it has when it is ripe. The color of both the pulp and the skin can vary depending on the variety of sapodilla.

Sapodilla is a fruit that we can enjoy almost all year round naturally , since it is a tropical fruit. This can vary depending on the plant and the nutrients in the soil, but the tree can bear large, nutritious fruit with good soil quality and sufficient moisture.

What is the origin of the sapote?

The origin of this fruit, as we have already explained, dates back to ancient times in Central America and Mexico where they are grown on large scales, but it is countries like Mexico and Colombia where these fruits are most exploited commercially .

Medium in size and oval in shape, depending on its variety it can be red, white, black and yellow. It can measure between 10 and 20 centimeters and with an average weight of 220 grams , depending on the type of fruit.

The tree that gives us the white sapote ( Casimiroa edulis ) does not go unnoticed, it can measure up to 10 meters in height with a wide crown, full of bright green leaves. The tree of the other types of sapodilla can vary in its characteristics.

What are the types of sapodilla?

As we have already explained, there are different types of sapote but the most common and marketed around the world are commonly distinguished by their color and they are red, white, black and yellow sapote.

Red sapote (Pouteria sapota)

As you can imagine, the color of the pulp is red , an intense red and very striking. Their skin is rougher than the other types. In Mexico , in addition to eating it naturally, jams and natural or industrial drinks such as juices, milkshakes or more recently the famous smoothies are made.

Black sapote (Diospyros digyna)

Can you imagine what color the interior is? Yes, it is indeed black . Once ripe, its pulp turns into a shiny black color and indicates that it is ready to enjoy its sweet flavor . The black sapote is very similar to chocolate, since it has a color and a sweetness similar to what we can find in chocolate. The black sapote resembles and also belongs to the persimmon family.

White sapote (Casimiroa edulis)

I’m giving you a clue that I’m sure you haven’t fallen for. Yes, this variety is white . This is the “ Spanish ” variety. We have already commented that the sapote is planted and marketed primarily in Mexico and Colombia, although the white sapote variety is the only one that is planted in less quantity in the American continent and it is the variety that we have the most crops in Spain, even though it is not a fruit . well known and widespread in our country. The areas where this sweet fruit is most cultivated is in Andalusia due to its climate and in the Balearic Islands.

We know when it is ripe and ready to eat when we squeeze it with our fingers and it cracks, revealing its white, sweet and very tasty pulp.

Yellow sapote (Pouteria campechiana)

It is native to the Mexican region of Campeche , located on the Yucatán Peninsula . Furthermore, due to its origin it receives its scientific name. The yellow variety comes from the color of its skin and since it is so thin, it can be eaten without peeling .

What are the properties of the sapodilla?

The sapote is a fruit with which we do not have much contact and which, for many of us, goes unnoticed, since it is not widely sold in Spain . Contrary to other tropical fruits, the sapote does not have a very striking color , but it is a fruit with undoubted nutritional benefits for health.

It is a very energetic food with a sufficient amount of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy calories. It is rich in fiber, since 100 grams of sapote provide 20% of the recommended daily amount to regulate intestinal transit . Like most fruits, the sapote provides a lot of water, almost 80%, being this fruit very moisturizing and diuretic .

This fruit provides us with a sufficient amount of glucose in a healthy and natural way for our body. Glucose is necessary to give energy to our body and it is our main fuel to trigger the biological activities of our organs and to be able to lead a full life of health.

It is also a source of vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B9 (folic acid) highly recommended for future mothers. Among the minerals that sapote has, magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus stand out , necessary for the functioning of the heart , the formation and care of bone tissue , blood coagulation and care of the circulatory system , among other things.

Average nutritional value per 100 grams of sapote

What are the benefits of sapote?

The sapote has a multitude of nutritional benefits for our body, in which the following should be highlighted:

blood pressure regulator

The sapote has many beneficial properties for our health. Its role in improving high blood pressure levels stands out . It can help treat cardiovascular diseases and blood pressure , since it can help us regulate it. Regulating blood pressure is important especially in the older age group .

What’s more, this fruit has the ability to help clean blood clots in the arteries, often caused by poor diet and which can cause hypertension problems .

An ally against constipation

The sapote is also a good anti-diarrheal remedy. As it has a large amount of fiber, it is a natural intestinal regulator , helping us clean our intestines and eliminate intestinal waste .

Great antioxidant power

Like most fruits and the sapote is not going to be less, it has great antioxidant power for the cells. It helps to naturally delay the oxidation of our body’s cells.

Other healthy properties

We have already seen the most notable properties of sapote, but we can also distinguish that it has anti-inflammatory properties and helps improve rheumatic pain.

It also has great antibiotic power that can help us with simple infections . In this process, its seeds have been used for a long time, which is where the antibiotic power of this fruit is found.

At the digestive level, it is a great ally, since it helps us have a normalized digestive process and is especially recommended for people with digestive problems or those who, due to their daily life, do not eat a healthy diet, causing them to have poor digestion.

As it is a fruit with vitamin A, we cannot forget that it has beneficial properties for vision, promoting good eye health in addition to other properties that this vitamin has.

At a beauty level , sapote is widely used to strengthen, nourish and give shine to hair . This characteristic is not only present in the fruit, but the seeds can also be used since they contain oils that help us treat the skin and hair. This oil is increasingly used in natural cosmetics for hair and skin.

Conclusion

Finally, let me tell you that in addition to the zapote that we hope you liked, you can find other information of interest on this blog about the different fruits that we can find in the market and their benefits.

Furthermore, in this blog there are different sections with information on different types of fruits, classified by their typologies. Essential information to get the maximum benefits from fruit, a blog full of content where you can browse the healthy benefits of a clean diet.

A blog where we have put all our effort into offering truthful content with information that is easy to understand by the entire public. Enjoy content created for you with information beneficial to your health.