Abiu (Pouteria Caimito)

Abiu, or Yellow Star Apple, is a medium-sized, tropical evergreen fruit tree native to the Amazon basin that has naturalized throughout South America and Southeast Asia. It is a member of the Sapota family, along with other Sow Exotic favorites like Sapodilla, Mamey Sapote, Canistel, etc. In subtropical regions, it blooms once a year and produces large yellow fruit with delicious, caramel-flavored pulp.

The greenish-white flowers open in the morning and last for about two days, then develop into round, baseball-sized fruit three to four months later. When ripe, the white pulp is translucent and jelly-like, with a sweet, caramel and vanilla custard flavor. It can be scooped out with a spoon, or used in ice cream, sorbets, yogurts, or fruit salads and is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C.

Abiu grows best in hot, humid areas, protected from cool breezes, in full sun to dappled shade. It is tolerant of a wide variety of soils as long as they are well-draining and slightly acidic. Abiu is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 11.  Abiu trees grow up to 15-25 feet at maturity and could easily be grown in a container and overwintered indoors.  They are more cold sensitive than other Pouterias.