The black sapote (Diospyros nigra)
Do you know the black sapote ?, Would you believe us if we told you that it has a taste very similar to chocolate and is healthy at the same time? This fruit from a plant native to Central America could replace chocolate when those irremediable cravings come to you, while providing nutrients and a very low fat content.
What is the black sapote?
In all of Central America and very particularly in Mexico, the black sapote is the fruit of a very frequent tree in tropical areas, which in the field of biology is known as Diospyros nigra.
This tree falls into the category of evergreen and can mostly reach 10 meters in height, although there are some specimens in these areas that can reach more than 20 meters approximately. It is a tree with scaly and ribbed bark, with alternate leaves and whitish flowers and a smell similar to gardenia.
Its tree is usually part of large coffee plantations, in which it has an important function of offering shade. It is very common in rural areas of tropical zones as well as in reserves and orchards. Its trunk presents a very noble wood and a particular reddish color, which draws the attention of the wood industry, which uses it to manufacture different types of furniture.
In what environments is this tree found?
The Diospyros nigra is found in forested areas of central America, where ecosystems have a height which can vary from the level of the sea. It is found in clay-type soils and generally in the vicinity of a river stream or a lagoon, that is, soils that tend to flood during much of the year, being a tree that requires a higher level of humidity.
The tropics are the place of growth because the temperatures are constantly around 25 ° C and have a high level of rainfall, the special climate for their development.
The black sapote tree, like the white sapote, is known as originating from Mexico, but also from other Central American countries, such as Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Colombia, being also cultivated in other South American countries.
Culture
The big crops of the black sapote and its greater commercialization occur in Mexico, where you can find these fruits in the markets, and in the period of time that goes from August to January.
In that country, more than 15 thousand tons are produced annually, which are consumed by the people for either culinary or curative reasons. There are other varieties of this fruit that are also consumed to a great extent, such as white, green, yellow, mamey, chicozapote and zapotillo, among several others.
A very precious fruit
The black sapote tree presents one of the most coveted fruits in the area, which has been known since the time of the Mayan civilizations of Mexico and Central America. They called the black sapote Tauch and were the first to realize that its pulp had a special sweetness.
The black sapote is an oval fruit of approximately 10 centimeters in diameter. On the outside it shows a green color very similar to that of its leaves and inside, its pulp is very dark. Something that always puzzled the people who took it and thought that its color was not pleasant enough for the fruit to be tasty.
This is another case in which appearances can be deceiving, since that black pulp represents an exquisite, sweet and creamy fruit, whose flavor is close to chocolate, which results in something very similar to what a chocolate mousse would be.
But not only because of the great flavor of its pulp this fruit is important, but also because of the nutritional contributions that it will bring us. E n its composition dominated by carbohydrates and vitamins A and C, which are responsible for strengthening our sight and improve the texture of our skin.
Properties
We have already mentioned that, in addition to its creamy and very tempting texture, the black sapote retains a large amount of nutrients and properties that will provide us with energy and good components for our body, which are the following:
Great source of vitamin C
We know that most of the vitamin C that we can consume on a daily basis comes from citrus fruits. But if these are not to your greatest liking and you need to strengthen your defenses, with only this vitamin you can achieve it.
You can choose to consume black sapote, which in an intake of 100 milligrams will provide us with 25 percent of the recommended daily dose. This will make us more resistant to viruses and provide our body with antioxidants.
Vitamin A contribution
Another of the vitamins that will help us strengthen our immune system, in addition to offering us better vision and promoting the growth of our cells.
Prevents anemia
As we mentioned before, its source of vitamin C is very important for the regulation of our body and one of the most characteristic factors of the power of this vitamin is the ability to absorb iron from foods of plant origin.
This absorption of iron will be responsible for combating anemia caused by the lack of this component in our body, called iron deficiency anemia. The fruit also contains vitamin B6, which will help those anemic to combat fatigue, which is a distinctive symptom of anemia.
Fight hypertension
There are different infusions that are used in the Central American area to normalize blood pressure levels and one of them is based on the leaf of the black sapote tree.
Eliminate symptoms of insomnia and anxiety
In Central American areas , its bark is usually boiled together with the peel of its fruits, to achieve a calming effect that keeps those who consume it from insomnia and calms people with anxiety disorders. It is used as a tea that is usually consumed at night, as a natural alternative to avoid consuming sleep-regulating chemicals.
It is anti-inflammatory and pain reliever
An infusion prepared with bark, leaves and no more than 5 seeds of the black sapote is usually used (more than that amount of seeds can be toxic), to soothe headaches, toothaches, colic and even the pain caused by the bite of the scorpion.
Black sapote is one of the sweet fruits with which you can replace the high fat content of chocolate.
