If we took all the fruits of the world combined and ranked them according to taste, then the cherimoya would surely be number one. Indeed, Mark Twain described the cherimoya as "deliciousness itself" and as anyone who have ever tasted the fruits can attest, words can hardly even begin to describe the wonders of this fruit. The luscious soft sweet and tangy white flesh of the cherimoya will titillate your taste buds to no end and leave you longing for more. Many have described the flavor as a mixture of Mango, papaya, bananas and coconut, but the cherimoya tastes like...well... a cherimoya, and can't be compared to anything else.

	Quick Links • Cherimoya Data Sheet • Image of the Pink Cherimoya • CRFG Cherimoya Data Sheet • Cherimoya: My Bread and Butter ! • California Cherimoya Association

The fruits themselves don't exactly advertise their insides too well. Their thin green "artichoke-like" skin make them look more like some odd extra-terrestrial vegetable that belongs in a stew rather than on your dessert plate. But as they say, don't judge a book by its cover, and as such, the cherimoya is definitely a fruit of virtue.

For those central coastal gardeners lucky enough to have the right conditions, the cherimoya is a rewarding addition to the garden. Its large evergreen leaves provide a lush tropical look, and the blossoms make for a wonderful fragrance throughout the lengthy summer bloom cycle. The flowers smell just like the fruit tastes, as if to announce the bounty to come.

Having the right growing conditions can be tricky, though. The tree is very frost sensitive when young, but gains hardiness with age. The hardiest variety currently grown is "Booth", which can withstand a few hours in the mid-20's without major damage. Other varieties are much more sensitive, not being able to withstand much exposure below 28 F.

	Full size view (56 kbytes)
	Selma, the Pink Cherimoya Yes, the cherimoya also comes in pink...pink flesh, that is. The fruit is delicious, reminicent of a Booth but with a much more complex flavor. Fruits tend to be small and seedy, which is one reason why this fruit has not been cultivated commercially. It also has the great attribute of being hardier than other varieties. The tree originated as a seedling from trees owned by a fellow named Mr. Stevenson in California. Unfortunately, no one knows where Mr. Stevenson's plants came from, but rumors suggest the pink cherimoya originates from very high elevations in the Andes.

It's sensitivity to frost is the primary reason why commercial groves are restricted to the 100% frost free locations in the foothills of southern California. But this should not shy away central coast gardeners. The tree never grows much larger than 25 feet, and can be kept even smaller with judicious pruning. This makes it easy to grow in protected locations, or to provide adequate shelter during rare freeze events. The tree has a natural tendency to espalier, thus, with pruning, it can be grown under the eave on the south side of your home.

For those not bold enough to grow cherimoyas in their own yard, California grown fruits are available from November through the following June in specialty stores or over the internet. The fruit is also available as an import from Chile from August through December, but because of the long shipping times, these fruits do not taste as California grown fruits.

In the stores, the fruits are generally hard, but they soften up after a few days at room temperature. Cherimoyas have a starchy base, so just like bananas, most of the starch is converted to sugar even when ripening off the tree. So unlike many fruits which do not sweeten up any further once removed from the trees, store bought fruits turn out excellent even if the fruits where not picked ripe.

If you want more details on where to buy cherimoyas, please visit our marketplace. Avid gardeners who prefer growing their own fruit can consult our Cherimoya data sheet. The data sheets outline all the details necessary from climate requirements and frost hardiness to pruning practices and varieties descriptions.

The Cloudforest Gardener

Link to the cherimoya data sheet