Apr 19th, 2025

Author: donich_admin

Deliciousness itself?

Mark Twain (an author for whom I have a great deal of admiration) said this:[

“We had an abundance of mangoes, papaias and bananas here, but the pride of the islands, the most delicious fruit known to men, cherimoya, was not in season. It has a soft pulp, like a pawpaw, and is eaten with a spoon.”  (Mark Twain, The Sacramento Daily Union, October 25, 1866, Kilauea, June, 1866.)

In this country the Cherimoya is known (in as much as it as known at all) as a Custard Apple.  I had never tried one, so when J and I saw them (with the quote) in an organic food shop in Glasgow, we had to try them out.

Initially they were quite hard, but after two days they had the recommended consistency which should be like a ripe Avocado.

This is what they look like.

On the outside.

On the inside

I’ll be honest and say that they were quite nice but not great.  They taste almost exactly like vanilla custard and are difficult to eat with the number of hard black stones in the centre.

So in my opinion anyone who thinks it is the “most delicious of fruits known to man” has never had a bowl of raspberries, or a ripe peach.  Or a finger banana.

The shop that sold them though – Locavore (in Partick) is really nice.  Masses of locally grown fruit and veg.  Groceries you can buy without loads of packaging.  Artisan bread. Actually right up my street, although J said it was too hipster for me.