STARFRUIT - MALAYISAN STAR

STARFRUIT (Averrhoa carambola) is a tropical fruit largely grown in Malaysia. This fruit are produced for domestic and export market. More than 1,600 hectare of star fruit was grown in the state of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Johor. May be not many of us not known to what is actually Star Fruit. The star fruit or Carrabolla scientific name is Averrhoa carambola from species Oxalidaceae. It is believed native to Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Young star fruit is a light green colour and when it ripens, it turn to yellow and while fully mature, it will be a golden yellow skin. The fruit shape like a star and hold it shape when cut. The young fruit in greenish skin will have salt flavour. The flesh is light yellow to yellow, crisp and juicy. Depended to varieties, its taste between pear, green apple, lemon and grape. How to select a good taste for star fruit? The good fruit is with yellow shiny skin and even colour. When star fruit skin starting turn to brown, dried up, it is going too wicked and avoid buying it. This article in "Anim Agriculture Technology" I share the Information about star fruit. Varieties of Star Fruit registered in Malaysia according to the plant variety listing by Department of Agriculture Malaysia are about 15 varieties in 2015. There are three varieties recommended for commercial scale that was B2, B10 and B17. Variety B10 consists for about 60% of star fruit grown in Malaysia and the rests are B17. B2 are specifically grown for pollination purposes. Actually two types of star fruit species are grown in Malaysia, sometimes it’s hardly to differential between it as tart variety will have a little sweet as well. For processing of star fruits such as Tart we prefer such as variety B10 that was tend to have narrow space rib. For Sweet the preferred variety are such as B7,B2 and B17 tend to have thick with thickset rib compare to tart variety. How the Star fruit Look Like? It was a simple question but not many people able to answer. The star fruit tree can grow as height 25 feet with yellowish and greenish leaves 2 to 4cm wide and 2 to 9cm long. The aromatic pink to lavender flower diameter approximately 0.95cm.The tree is grow faster and fruit bear heavily in rich loam with well drainage and high humidity climate region. In Malaysia, there grow huge at state Selangor, Johor, Kedah, Perak, Pahang and Sembilan State at season April to June or October-December. For last words Star Fruit Product and Recipes are developed by chef according to the necessity. Below is some of product made from star fruit that was Puree, Dried star fruit as snack, Star fruit flavour cake, Star fruit juice and Star fruit candies. Why Star Fruit benefits to body?. In Malaysia, you can found many fruit hawker along roadside and market. The fruit had lot of nutritional value and benefits to body need. The value of star frit of nutritional Value per 100gm from the lab test at UPM Serdang are Calorie 24 kcal., Protein 0.7 g, Fat 1.9 g, Calcium 7 mg Iron 0.4 mg, Vitamin A 26 mg, Vitamin B1 0.07 mg, Vitamin B2 0.07 mg and Vitamin C 25.8 mg. Star fruit from Malaysia are exported to Europe Region about 60% of the whole industry. Malaysia star fruit provide Good Agriculture Practices or MyGAP certification for export quality. Thanks! By, M Anem, Senior Agronomist, Star Fruit Farm, TKPM Batang Si, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia. (23 JamadilAkhir 1437H)