Pouteria campechiana cv. ' Bruce '

Canistel or "yellow sapote" is a sweet tasting large fruit, from an evergreen tropical tree native to Central America, cultivated and selected by pre-Columbian civilizations. It is an erect tree growing about 8m (25 ft) tall although in favourable conditions could reach 27-30 m (90-100 ft) in height. The trunk has brown, wrinkled bark and abundant white, gummy latex. The evergreen leaves are lanceolate or obovate, thin and glossy. Pouteria campechiana produces bisexual flowers, solitary or in small bunches. They are cream in colour with silky hair and fragrant. Canistel fruit is very variable in form and size, round, with or without a pointed beak, oval or ovoid. Unripe fruit is green, hard and gummy. As it ripens, the skin turns lemon-yellow, golden-yellow or pale orange-yellow and becomes smooth and glossy. The flesh is yellow with a pasty texture similar to the texture of a hard-boiled egg, hence the name "egg fruit". It is sweet tasting with a flavour comparable with that of baked sweet potato. Inside there are 1-4 hard seeds, glossy and chestnut-brown in colour. In the Yucatan the canistel remains a common home garden fruit. Available mostly in summer and autumn. Could be eaten fresh, or used in drinks (especially milk shakes), custards, ice creams or desserts. The tree is easy to grow with minimal care because it is quite wind resistant, and tolerates sandy or limestone soils. Canistel is rich in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous and has fat-low content. The variety "Bruce" selected in South Florida provides ample harvests of 0,75-1 kg (3-4 lb) fruit.

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