FoodFood InformationFruitTropical
The carambola is a strange-looking exotic fruit that resembles no other.It is native to Malaysia and is grown in fair supply in Hawaii and on theislands and lands that border the Caribbean Sea. In the continental UnitedStates it is grown commercially on a very small scale in Florida and California.America's production is limited not only because of lack of demand but becausethe trees are extremely sensitive to cold weather. They are at peak of seasonfrom September to January.
Carambolas are also known as Star Fruit because they resemble the five-pointedstarfish, and the most common of the twenty known varieties is called theGolden Star. The edible skin appears to have a thick, waxy coating. Dependingon the variety and the ripeness of the fruit, the flesh is either pleasantlytart or unpleasantly sour and has a few tiny seeds. As a rule, the deeperthe yellow coloring, the less tart the flavor. Carambolas are usually eatenraw or used to flavor fruit punches and sometimes used to make jams andjellies. Allow them to ripen if pale yellow and refrigerate when the colorturns golden yellow.
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