Are you a fruit lover?
Do you like to taste different fruits? You will love reading this article on custard apple vs sugar apple.
The custard apple and the sugar apple are two popular tropical fruits found in similar regions around the world.
While they may seem similar on the surface, there are notable differences between the custard apple vs sugar apple in taste, texture, nutrition, growing conditions, and more. Let’s take a deeper look at how these fruits compare.
Appearance of Custard Apple vs Sugar Apple
Custard apple and sugar apple have distinct appearances that help distinguish them at first glance.
This has a green, spiky exterior shell roughly the size of a pineapple. Once cut open, its creamy, soft pulp has a milky custard-like consistency, giving it its name.
In contrast, the sugar apple has a scaly reddish or yellowish exterior resembling an alligator skin. Its segments contain a sweet, grainy pulp like apple flesh but are softer in texture.
Difference and Similarity in Taste
The taste profiles of custard apples and sugar apples differ. While both are quite sweet, the sugar apple boasts a much more intense sweetness. Its flavor has been compared to that of caramel or candied maple syrup, with a tart, almost citrus-like nuance as well.
So, the custard apple has a far more mild, subtle sweetness reminiscent of vanilla. Its creamy white flesh dissolves in the mouth.
Some describe the custard apple’s taste as reminiscent of fresh coconut cream or vanilla custard. Others perceive hints of banana or pineapple mixed with its light sweetness. Compared to the bold symphony of flavors in a sugar apple, the custard apple is the more sweet fruit.
But the custard apple’s soft, silky texture makes it very enjoyable. It melts in the mouth in a way that the segmented sugar apple does not quite replicate. Personal taste preferences will determine whether one prefers the straightforward sweetness of sugar apples or the milder, creamier notes of custard apples.
Both fruits have their aficionados and are valued crops in tropical regions. The sugar apple’s intensity may make it better suited for use in recipes to lend flavor, while the custard apple’s subtlety recommends enjoyment on its own terms.
Their differing taste profiles provide options depending on what kind of sweet experience one seeks from these unique fruits.
Nutritional Comparison
While both fruits are low in calories and provide vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars, their nutritional profiles reveal some noteworthy differences:
Calories: A one-cup serving of sliced custard apple has 56 calories, compared to 72 calories in a sugar apple.
Carbs: The major calorie sources are carbs; custard has 14g; and sugar has 18g of natural sugars per cup serving.
Fiber: Custard apple provides 2.6g of fiber versus sugar apple’s 2.1g per serving. This helps support digestion.
Vitamin C: Both pack nearly 20% of the RDA for vitamin C in a cup serving. This antioxidant supports immunity.
Other Vitamins: Custard apple is higher in thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and niacin (B3); sugar apple offers more vitamin B6.
Minerals: Custard apple has more potassium and copper, which aid nerve function and heart health. Sugar apple have higher manganese levels.
Polyphenols: Compounds like flavonoids and terpenoids give these fruits antioxidant properties important for reducing inflammation and chronic disease risk.
Seasons of Availability
The seasons when custard apples and sugar apples are in season vary somewhat depending on planting locations within their tropical and subtropical zones. But some general patterns can be observed.
In South and Central America, custard apples tend to fruit from May through September, peaking during July and August. Sugar apples are available a bit earlier, usually in April through August, with peak season in June.
In tropical areas of Africa and Asia like India, custard apples bear fruit from March through June, with sugar apples side by side from February through May.
Throughout the Caribbean, custard apples are most plentiful between July and November. Sugar apples usually crop up from May through August.
In Florida, where both are grown, custard apples are available from June through September. Sugar apples start a bit sooner in April and end their season by late July or early August.
Growing conditions impact crops each year. But particularly for North American customers, the summer months generally coincide with peak season for purchasing either fresh custard apples or sugar apples from local markets, roadside stands, or U-pick farms, if available. Proper planning allows enjoyment of these tropical delights when they’re at their seasonal best.
Choosing and Storing Custard Apples vs Sugar Apples
When selecting either fruit at the store or farmers market, there are a few key points to ensure quality:
Custard Apples: Look for unbruised specimens with green to yellow skin. They should give when pressed. Ripe custard apples will have a subtle, sweet aroma. Avoid any with soft spots.
Sugar Apples: Choose oval-shaped fruits with bright green or yellow, intact scales. Ripe sugar apples will be very fragrant and yield when pressed. Skip any with wrinkled or brown scales.
Both will continue ripening after purchase if picked earlier than ripe. Allow them to counter-ripen for 3-5 days until they become very soft and fragrant. Refrigeration slows ripening.
Once ripe, custard apples will last up to 5 days when stored in a closed plastic bag in the fridge. Sugar apples maintain their quality for about 3–4 days refrigerated. Neither freezes well, so eat ripe fruit within a short window.
Proper selection and storage help enjoy these tropical fruits at their peak. Refrigeration preserves ripened custard apples and sugar apples long enough for recipes or quick enjoyment of their warm-weather flavors, even when out of season.
Their mild flavors meld well into baked goods, tarts, or sauces too. Both fruits are very versatile for sweet and savory cooking. They work well in appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. With some creativity, their unique flavors can shine in many international cuisines.
In case you missed: Growing Sugar Apple Tree
Health Benefits
Both fruits offer notable nutrition profiles that translate to various health advantages.
- Antioxidants like polyphenol and vitamins C and E found in these fruits help fight cell-damaging free radicals and reduce chronic disease risk factors.
- Fiber aids digestion and supports a healthy gut microbiome. Custard apples contain more soluble fiber per serving, which is especially beneficial.
- Their natural sugars provide energy without spiking blood glucose levels the way refined sugars do.
- Potassium assists heart function and blood pressure regulation, and custard apples hold an edge as a rich source.
- Manganese, copper, and other minerals in these fruits help form connective tissues, brain function, and hormonal activities.
Traditional medicine also values its properties. Ayurvedic practices utilize custard for ulcers, diarrhea, and skin conditions due to their antibacterial effects.
Sugar apple’s astringency made it a treatment for sore throats and mouth sores. Ongoing research further confirms the benefits. Studies link the polyphenol-rich custard apple to reducing inflammation, tumor growth, and even parasites.
Meanwhile, other investigations show sugar apples may inhibit certain cancers and bacteria as well.
In moderation, as part of a balanced diet, these tropicals offer enjoyable flavors and an assortment of vitamins, minerals, and natural compounds that can lend health-boosting support in various ways.
FAQs
Do the seeds need to be removed?
Sugar apple seeds are small and edible, so there is no need to remove them. Custard apple seeds are larger and should be removed before eating or cooking with the fruit.
Can young trees be grown at home?
Both species can be grown in pots indoors in warmer climates or outdoors in tropical areas. Expect 3-5 years of maturity before bearing fruit.
Do they ship well internationally?
Shipping long distances can be challenging as the soft fruits bruise. Vacuum-sealed packaging extends the shelf life of mail orders.
Which has more fiber?
Custard apples contain more fiber at 2.6g per cup versus 2.1g in sugar apples.
How do their flavors compare to those of more common fruits?
Custard apples taste sweet, like coconut cream or vanilla. Sugar apple has an intense sweetness akin to maple syrup or caramel with a tart nuance.
Conclusion
Custard apples and sugar apples offer unique tropical fruits with noticeable differences in flavor profiles, nutritional contents, seasons of availability, and uses.
While both fruits provide an array of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds, the custard apple edges out the sugar apple slightly in nutrients like fiber, potassium, and B vitamins per standard serving size.
Their peak seasons vary within their tropical zones but generally coincide across warmer months, presenting opportunities to sample these specialties when they are at their seasonal ripeness. Proper selecting, storing, and ripening techniques preserve quality.
Creative preparations abound, from beverages to baked goods, demonstrating how these unique fruits can shine in cuisines worldwide. Health research increasingly supports their traditional uses, pointing to benefits for digestion, heart function, and chronic disease prevention through their antioxidant contents.