Cherimoya (Ashta)
December 17, 2009 • Category: Ingredients
The next thing that a Lebanese foodie would do upon arrival in Beirut is check out the neighborhood fruit stalls. Found some cherimoya (ashta in Arabic or anone in French) and had to taste the fruit Mark Twain called ” the most delicious fruit known to man”. Here again, I was not disappointed. Meltingly sweet, with a flesh so tender it dissolved in the mouth, a taste of the most heavenly pear you have ever experienced…I wish you could all have one! Grown about 30 miles near Beirut, in Nahr Ibrahim ( River of Abraham), it did not travel far. Nahr Ibrahim is also known by the river of the God Adonis (God of fertility). Legend has it that he died there in the Spring and the river got tainted red with his blood, hence the reddish hue of that river. Archeological sights abound near there, going back to Phoenician times as well as Greeks, Romans and more. It is said to be the path of a pilgrimage in antiquity when people would partake in bacchanals near the source of that river in Faqra, a few miles north.
When the fruit yields to gentle pressure, it is ready. Tear a piece gently and suck the white flesh, which will instantly melt in your mouth and release a black seed; then reflect on the wonder of God’s creations as you sigh in marveled contentment.
Comments
21 Comments • Comments Feed
Rosa says:
I love this unique fruit!
Cheers,
Rosa
On December 17, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Ivy says:
Very interesting. I never heard of this fruit before.
On December 17, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Bria says:
Amazing! I want one. 🙂
On December 17, 2009 at 10:36 pm
HistoryOf GreekFood says:
oh, the custard apple! I have never eaten it but a friend described its taste like a combination of anana, mango, papaya, strawberry, apple and big bubble gum! Quite unique!
On December 18, 2009 at 1:44 am
Ziad says:
correct i also think its custard apple but then next closest looking fruit would be annona
On February 22, 2023 at 5:26 am
Mona says:
Back home in AP-India, this fruit is so easily available in HUGE quantities at very reasonable rates when in season. Oh I miss this wonderful fruit now. Here it is one of the most costliest fruits.
On December 18, 2009 at 2:28 pm
SE(Denufood) says:
Ohh..is miss this fruit so much..it was so easily available in India..we call it sitaphal…
On December 18, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Marysol says:
Beautiful photo of a beautiful fruit.
As a kid living on the island of Cuba, I enjoyed Cherimoyas, on a regular basis, either out of hand, or in a batido (milkshake).
I recently found them again, in a local grocery store, and nearly broke into a dance, right there, in the middle of the produce aisle.
But my new discovery barely resembled the same fruit I had back on the island. It had no flavor, and the texture was not as creamy as I remembered.
So, I’ve been pouting ever since. But I’m still keeping an eye out for this succulent fruit.
On December 18, 2009 at 4:22 pm
profdr says:
Qeshta (Arabic), Eshta (Arabic), annona, cherimoya,… is my love and researches
did you you know about my Nagi and Badr new atemoyas selections, few seeds than custard apple or cherimolia and sweeter. There are also names of died brother and father , hope them be in the highest ferdause (paradise)
On December 18, 2009 at 6:24 pm
cmiranda says:
Wow , I didn’t know they had cherimoyas in Lebanon.I always thought they were only available in Central America.Gives me something to look forward to when I go to Beirut next year.
On December 19, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Jean says:
I just bought two scrumptious looking cherimoya (called custard appled here) at the Japanese supermarket in SIngapore …. and can’t wait to eat them. Kisses sister, enjoy your trip to the old country 🙂
On December 26, 2009 at 11:39 pm
david says:
Great post – great descriptions and picture. Cherimoya can be very expensive in the US, when it can be found, and outside of California, Florida or NYC, that can be a challenge. The flavor is incredible – to me it’s reminiscent of a highly complex mixture of banana, melon, mango and coconut. Many sweet fruits have such a one-dimensional flavor; this is an exception – a very complex and deep flavor indeed! It should be noted that the seeds (which have an impermeable, protective shell) are NOT to be ingested.
On January 10, 2010 at 1:10 am
kristy says:
This is not the cherimoya. This fruit is the sugar apple. It is the same family as the cherimoya. Check out my blog if you want to see how the cherimoya look like. You can actually order this fruit from cherimoya.com. They are very sweet.
On April 30, 2010 at 12:09 am
curious :P says:
what are its benifits???????? can someone answer!
On November 13, 2012 at 11:37 am
Bev says:
Same essential benefits as banana.
Except the cherimoya makes your taste buds much happier.
On March 30, 2017 at 6:14 pm
Ziad says:
benefits? like going to heaven still on earth
On February 22, 2023 at 5:23 am
Kamal says:
Here in India we make delicious ice-cream with this fruit.
On February 5, 2014 at 9:51 am
Joumana says:
@Kamal: In Lebanon too, in the olden days. Haven’t seen any lately, 🙁
On February 5, 2014 at 10:28 am
Bev says:
Cherimoya and what I know as ashtah are in the same family but they are not the same fruit. I first tried ashtah in Beirut (which is what you have pictured here)but in the states, all I can find are cherimoya. Although they also taste sweet and wonderful, they are not the same. I wish I could find ashtah in the US.
On March 30, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Ziad says:
ohhh man this is the fruit of my childhood memories of Lebanon , I always confused it with cherimoya but that looks nothing like this ,no this would be a larger version of its cousin called the sugar apple or sweetsop ,the next closest thing to it would be annona but i think this is what is known as custard apple which resembles it exactly in shape and size and interior but we call it ashta ,thx for the wonderful memory lane Joumana
On February 22, 2023 at 5:22 am
Joumana Accad says:
@Ziad My pleasure! Yes, you are right, custard apple is the most accurate name for it, or anone in French.
On March 13, 2023 at 1:50 am