Pouteria sapota
Mamey, Mamey Sapote
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Family: Sapotaceae. Origin: Central America.
A large-leaved, spreading, large tree from Central America, it is
considered by Cubans to produce the best fruit in the world. This egg-shaped
fruit is 3-6" long (some varieties are larger) with a brown, scruffy
surface. A woody cover encloses the pulp and one large seed. The flesh
is fine and reddish, sweet in some varieties and insipid in others.
The fruit is picked when the layer under the skin is brown (not green),
but the fruit is still hard. It is used fresh, in milk shakes and ice
cream. Cold tender when young, it attains more hardiness as it ages.
Tree loses its leaves around mid April. At that time fruit can be easily
counted -- both that year's crop and the next as well.
Varieties: Pantin (Key West), Magaa, Pace, FloridaHandsome, open tree,
12 x 4 leaves clustered at tips. Excellent flavor, Cuban favorite. Fruit
has rough, brown skin, red to orange pulp.
