Mamey Sapote: The Caribbean Salmon-Fleshed Fruit
Mamey sapote has the texture of a sweet potato and the flavor of pumpkin, almond, and sweet cherry. A Caribbean staple of remarkable richness.
The mamey sapote (Pouteria sapota) is a large brown football-shaped fruit with stunning salmon-pink to deep orange flesh. The texture is dense and creamy like a baked sweet potato, with a flavor combining pumpkin, almond, cherry, and honey. Native to Central America, it has been cultivated for over 1,000 years.
Origin and history
Native to southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Cultivated by the Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples. The name "mamey" comes from the Taรญno language of the Greater Antilles.
Where mamey sapotes grow today
Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Florida produce commercially. Most fruit is consumed locally.
How to grow
Tropical, USDA Zones 10-11. Tall tree (15-25m). Slow-growing; first fruit in 5-8 years from grafted tree.
Bottom line
Among the most distinctively-flavored tropical fruits. The texture and flavor are unforgettable.