Among the countless colorful, fragrant and delicious fruits that exist in the world, those born in Brazil are by far some of the most exotic in their shapes, textures and flavors.The vastness of our flora is so great that even for a Brazilian, it is difficult to list which are his favorites, especially because some are very specific and regional.
Given the continental dimensions of Brazil, many of these fruits exist only in some states and regions, while in others they simply do not exist and are not known. Today, we are going to discover a strange fruit with a green spiny rind that hides within itself a white pulp with large and black seeds, known by many names such as heart, jackfruit from Pará, poor jackfruit, or soft jackfruit.
Native to the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon, Annona muricata, or soursop, is a medium-sized tree reaching 4 to 6 meters in height, which adapts to the low-altitude tropical climate with green leaves and yellow flowers that grow on the trunk and branches. The fruits have an oval shape with thorns and are large, weighing up to 8kg, with perennial fruiting.
Its white pulp has a bittersweet and slightly acidic flavor, very delicate and considered by many to be similar to pumpkin fruit. In indigenous cultures, soursop leaves are used in the form of tea as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory. According to popular knowledge, its pulp and seeds have anticancer properties and there are studies in some Brazilian universities being developed in this direction, but there is still no proof that soursop can cure cancer
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In addition to the uses of the pulp in the form of juice, vitamins, drinks, ice cream and sweets, the oil extracted from soursop offers many properties which include bactericide, astringents, hypotensives and sedatives, to name a few.
Its traditional uses are to treat asthma, chills, fever, flu, high blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness, rheumatism, and skin diseases. Use it in creams, lotions and balms to relieve dry itchy skin and for eczema and psoriasis symptoms. The seed has a high value of magnesium and potassium in relation to the fruit pulp.
The flavor and aroma of soursop are pleasant, delicate and intense with astringent and refreshing nuances. It can be said that the aroma of soursop is a fruity and herbal mix, which has both delicate, sweet and juicy-fruity nuances as well as green and herbal.
In perfumery, the soursop note is rarely used, but it harmonizes very well in fruity floral scent pyramids when looking for a touch that mixes herbs and fruits at the same time. One of the fragrances that best represents the soursop note is L’Occitane Au Brésil Flor de Graviola.
