They could be mistaken as potatoes at first glance but they're actually Chico or Tsiko - a kind of fruit that is abundant here in the Philippines. They are also known as Sapodilla in some countries and they may look delicious but sad to say, they're not the kind of fruit that I like. Dad brought them last night and since I don't eat Chico, so he only get to share it with mom. How about you? Do you like Chico?
Sapodilla grows to 3–4 m tall. It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. The ornamental leaves are medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, 7–15 cm long, with an entire margin. The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla.
The fruit is a large ellipsoid berry, 4–8 cm in diameter, very much resembling a smooth-skinned potato and containing 2-5 seeds. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. The seeds are black and resemble beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed. The fruit has a high latex content and does not ripen until picked. Zapota tree with fruits in Tamil Nadu, India.
The flavor is exceptionally sweet and very tasty[peacock term], with what can be described as a malty flavor. Many believe the flavor bears a striking resemblance to caramel. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth.
The trees can only survive in warm, typically tropical environments, dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from 5–8 years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.
I've never tasted chico before but they do look like potatoes. I like potatoes but not as a fruit and certainly not for dessert.