Soncoya

What it is

Soncoya is Annona purpurea, a member of the custard-apple family. The oval or nearly round fruit measures 15–20 cm (6–8 in) across. Its hard surface breaks into segments that separate readily when ripe. Inside the abundant pulp are numerous dark-brown seeds, each 2.5–3 cm (about 1 in) long.

Where it comes from

Its native home is the coastal lowlands from southern Mexico through Central America to Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. In Guatemala it grows in Petén, Alta Verapaz, Izabal and Escuintla, among other regions.

The tree travelled to the Philippines in the early 1900s. Plantings followed in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, in 1918 and St. Croix in 1930. At Lamao in the Philippines, trees grew and flowered well but apparently set no fruit for several years.

How it's eaten where it grows

In Colombia, the soft pulp is eaten raw or strained for a drink, separating the juice from its fibres. In Guatemala, ripe soncoya goes into refrescos, or fruit drinks, as well as ice cream and sweets. The yellow-orange pulp is the food; the seed kernels are poisonous.

How it's grown

Soncoya grows wild and in home gardens. The tree reaches 6–10 m (20–33 ft), with spreading branches, and loses its leaves seasonally. Large, strongly scented flowers emerge with the new leaves. The thick outer petals are mottled yellow and purple inside; smaller inner petals are creamy white outside and purple within. It likes warm, humid conditions and open places. In Guatemala, flowering usually runs from February to June.

When and where you'll find it

Guatemala’s fruit season usually runs from June to October; in Mexico’s Yucatán, fruits usually ripen in August. Home-grown fruits go to local markets. In Guatemala, names include sincuya and chincuya, so a market fruit with either name can be this same brown, pointed soncoya.