Sweet, pulpy, and fragrant rich cherimoya is one of the most delicious tropical fruits of Andean valley origin. These greenish-yellow, conical fruits are from the evergreen trees belonging to the family Annonaceae, in the genus of Annona. The plant has been thought to be native to Loja region of Ecuador, bordering Peru, the low rising tropical forests of Central Andean Mountains.

Scientific name: Annona cherimola.
 Annona is a small-sized tree, grows to about 15 to 30 feet tall with dense foliage, and bears fruits after 4-5 years of plantation. At their natural habitat, cherimoya flowers are pollinated by insects (Coleoptera, Hemiptera). However, in the cultivated farms, pollination is largely done artificially to obtain good yields.

The fruit is irregularly oval or conical in shape, features leathery dark-green skin with polygonal indentations. Annona reticulata (custard apple) features small round or conical protuberances. The fruit measures about 10-15 cm in length and 10 cm in diameter and weighs about 350 g to 500 g and in some varieties weighing several pounds. Ripe fruits turn pale green to light brown color, and emanate sweet, fragrant aroma that can be appreciated from a distance. Inside it features, creamy pulp with black colour smooth seeds embedded in the flesh. Seeds and skin are inedible.

Sugar apple (Annona squamosa) is a small sized tropical fruit with the polygonal mosaic patterns on its surface. It has pleasant sweet taste and flavour similar to that of cherimoya.

Custard apple (Annona reticulata) is another small size fruit commonly grown in India, Pakistan and other South Asian regions. It features smooth conical protuberances (carpels) on the surface. It has similar taste and flavour as cherimoya; however, proportionately has less pulp but more seeds for its size.

Atemoya is hybrid of cherimoya (A. cherimola) and sugar apple (A. squamosa). It has better temperature and humidity tolerance suitable for cultivation under tropical climates.

Guanabana (Annona muricata) also known as soursop (graviola), is much larger in size than cherimoya. It is easily distinguished by its size, spiky surface and fibrous, tart flesh.

Health benefits

Very sweet andpleasant flavour annonas contain an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, anti-oxidants and minerals.

The fruit has calories equivalent to that of mangoes. 100 g of fresh fruit pulp provide about 75 calories. It is, however, contain no saturated fats or cholesterol. It characteristically contains a good amount of dietary fibre (3 g per100 g) that helps prevent absorption of cholesterol in the gut. The fibre also helps protect the mucous membrane of the colon from exposure to toxic substances by binding cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.

Cherimoya contains several poly-phenolic antioxidants. Among them, the most prominent in annona family fruits are Annonaceous acetogenins. Acetogenin compounds such as asimicin, bullatacinare...etc are powerful cytotoxins and have been found to have anti-cancer, anti-malarial, and anti-helminthes properties.

It is very good in vitamin-C. Vitamin C is a powerful natural antioxidant. Consumption of fruits rich in vitamin C helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

In addition, cherimoya fruit is a good source of B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine). 100 g fresh fruit provides 0.257 mg or 20% of daily-recommended levels. Pyridoxine helps keep-up GABA neuro chemical in the brain. High GABA levels calm down nervous irritability, tension, and headache ailments.

Further, it has a well-balanced sodium-potassium ratio. A good potassium level in the body helps control heart rate and blood pressure, and thus, counters the bad influences of sodium. It also contains more minerals weight per weight than many common fruits like apples, rich in copper, magnesium, iron and manganese.

Digestive system: Cherimoya possesses a considerable amount of fibre. Fibre stimulates peristaltic motion and increased secretion of gastric juices, which eases digestion, prevents conditions like constipation, and protects the body from more serious conditions like colorectal cancer. Fibre can also scrape cholesterol out of the arteries and blood vessels. One cherimoya contains 7 grams of dietary fibre.

Lower on the glycaemic index: The glycaemic index (GI) ranks food and drinks based on their blood sugar increase potential. Foods high on the glycaemic index (such as white rice and white bread) will break down easily and cause blood sugar and insulin level spikes after meals, which is followed by rapidly dropping blood sugar levels. Cherimoya is more slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, which prevents sugar crashes, sugar cravings, and mood swings.

Maintain a healthy blood pressure: Cherimoya are loaded with potassium and a low content of sodium. They are well known because of its high potassium content. One cherimoya contains a whopping 839 milligrams of potassium, compared to just 12.5 milligrams of sodium. This helps the blood vessels relax and maintains proper blood pressure.

Fight infections: One cup of cherimoya contains 60 percent of the vitamin C daily requirements per cup. Vitamin C is a powerful natural water-soluble antioxidant that helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and eliminates cancer-causing free radicals in the body.

Improve the heart’s health: Fibre, vitamin C, and B6, and potassium have been known to improve the heart’s health. The recommended 4700 milligrams (mg) of potassium are not obtained by many individuals in the United States, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, despite the benefits of increased potassium intake. One study suggested that individuals who consumed 4069 mg of potassium per day had a 49 percent lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared with those who consumed less potassium (approximately 1000 mg per day).

Also, additional fibre has been known to lower "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increase "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.

Help sleep: Cherimoya has been known to help an individual sleep with its high content of magnesium, which is a mineral that is directly linked to improving the quality, duration, and tranquillity of sleep. Cherimoya also helps regulate the metabolism, to help reduce sleep disorders and the occurrence of insomnia.

Improve brain health: Several components of cherimoya, such as potassium, folate, and various antioxidants are known to provide neurological benefits. Folate has been known to reduce the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline. Potassium has been linked to increasing blood flow to the brain and enhance cognition, concentration, and neural activity.

Also, cherimoya contains a considerable amount of vitamin B6. A deficiency has shown depression and nausea. Be sure not to consume too much. The vitamin B6 upper limit is set to 100 milligrams for adults over the age of 18, but adults do not need that much unless directed by the doctor.