Carambola origin, varieties and growing environment

Star fruit is a fruit with a very unique appearance, with many corners, but it is very sweet. It is also the most suitable fruit to eat after tea or wine.

Carambola

Commonly known as Yangtao and Yangmeitao, it is one of the famous Lingnan fruits. Because its cross section looks like a five-pointed star, it is also called "Star Pear" abroad. The peel of the carambola is waxy, smooth and bright, and the flesh is bright yellow, delicate, crisp, sweet and juicy. Carambola contains a variety of signature nutrients and a large amount of volatile components with a fresh fragrance. Eating a few slices of carambola after tea or wine will make you feel refreshed and happy, with a different flavor. It is worth mentioning that carambola is not only nutritious, but also has the effects of diuresis and analgesia, heat removal and detoxification, digestion and hangover, and blood pressure reduction and comfort.

There are two main types of carambolas: sour carambolas and sweet carambolas. Sour carambolas are large and sour, commonly known as "Sanren", and are rarely eaten raw. They are mostly used as cooking ingredients or processed into candied fruit. Sweet carambolas are excellent in taste, with a sweet taste and no residue.

Origin

Carambola is native to Malaysia and was introduced to my country for cultivation in the Han Dynasty. Currently, carambola is produced and cultivated in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, and is exported to Europe, America, Japan and other places every year.

Sweet carambolas have a long history of cultivation in Guangdong, my country, and the fine varieties include Guangzhou Liede sweet carambolas and Chaoan red sweet carambolas. These local old varieties have small fruits, with a single fruit weight of about 100 to 120 grams, a large core, thin flesh, more fleshy residue, more seeds, and a bland flavor. They are low-grade popular fruits with low market prices, and most fruit farmers do not plant them.

In the late 1980s, Singapore sweet carambolas were introduced from Singapore for trial planting in the Pearl River Delta. Shantou introduced Singapore sweet carambolas in Dongkeng Village, Xinan Town, Chenghai and Tashan Scenic Area, Lianshang Town in 1993, and has achieved initial success.

Growth environment

Carambola is a tropical evergreen fruit tree, suitable for economic cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. Because it likes high temperature and high humidity, is relatively shade-tolerant, and is afraid of cold, drought, and wind, in suitable areas, it is also necessary to choose flat land with deep and fertile soil, sufficient water, convenient drainage, and facing south and leeward to build a garden; if it is built on a mountain, it is advisable to choose a south-southeast mid-low slope with water sources for irrigation, good soil quality, and a small slope.

variety

Star fruit varieties can be divided into two categories according to their uses: sweet and sour. Specifically, they can be divided into the following categories:

1. Erlin species: also known as dense soft branches and soft branches, it is a seedling variant variety. When the fruit is ripe, the skin is white and yellow with slight wrinkles, the fruit stalk is slightly protruding, the fruit is spindle-shaped, the flesh is delicate, and the flavor is medium.

2. Qingkeng Houzhuan variety: When the fruit is ripe, the skin is golden yellow with green edges, the skin is slightly wrinkled, smooth and bright. The fruit is spindle-shaped, smaller than the Chengchui variety. The period of good quality of fresh fruit is limited to February to March, and the flavor is lighter.

3. Crooked-tail variety: When the fruit is ripe, the skin is light yellow, the fruit stalk is protruding, the fruit tip is slightly crooked, the fruit is long and spindle-shaped, the skin is thin and smooth, the flesh is soft, and it is not resistant to storage.

4. Hammer variety: The fruit is yellow-white when 70% ripe, and light yellow when ripe. The edge of the fruit is green, the fruit stalk is slightly protruding, the fruit is pointed, the skin is sometimes slightly wrinkled, the fruit is spindle-shaped, and the quality is slightly sour and astringent when immature.

5. Red flesh variety: When the fruit is ripe, the peel is orange-red with green edges. The peel is smooth and uneven. The fruit is oblong, the flesh is soft, the skin is thin, and it is not resistant to storage and transportation.

6. Tainong No. 1: This variety is selected from the natural hybridization of Erlin species, Misi species and Waiwei species. Its fruit is long and spindle-shaped, with a prominent fruit pedicle and pure fruit tip. The skin and flesh are golden yellow. The fruit is large, thick, thin and smooth, with delicate flesh, less fiber, and a fragrant flavor, but it is not resistant to storage and transportation.

7. Sour variety: Also known as sour variety, it is the original variety in Taiwan. In the past, the fruit was small. In recent years, due to seed variation, the variety with larger fruit shape and smooth skin was selected. When ripe, the skin is dark yellow and the taste is sour, which is not suitable for raw consumption. It is specially used for processing.