This 'apple' is called a fruit salad on its own: Dietitian gives benefits

Its leathery skin and 'green grenade-like' outer shell often make people ignore this fruit on supermarket racks. However, the humble fruit hides something extremely sweet inside - its creamy flesh that reminds one of fruit custard. Cherimoya, a fruit that belongs to the family of India's sithaphal and Kerala's 'aathachakka,' is a rare and exotic fruit that the famous writer Mark Twain called the 'most delicious fruit known to man'. According to Healthline's dietitian, Jerlyn Jones, this fruit, grown in the tropical highlands of South America, has numerous benefits. 

What is cherimoya?
Cherimoya, whose scientific name is Annona cherimola, belongs to the Annonaceae. It is closely related to custard apple, but cherimoya is tastier and creamier than the fruit, say experts. 

From the Americas
Cherimoya is believed to have originated in the high valleys of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. It reached Central America and then Spain in the sixteenth century through Spanish colonialism. Now, cherimoya is cultivated in Chile, Spain, Bolivia, New Zealand, and California and Hawaii in the US. 
The calorie count
A single piece of cherimoya fruit contains 176 calories, 4 grams of protein, 42 grams of carbohydrates, and 7 grams of fibre. 

The ‘heart-shaped grenade’
Cherimoya is about 4 inches wide and 8 inches long, with a distinctive heart shape. Agriculture experts call it the ‘heart-shaped grenade’. The green-coloured skin has a rubber-like texture, while some varieties may have tiny scales. The creamy pulp inside the fruit has a big black seed, too. 

A stand-alone fruit salad
Cherimoya is often called a fruit salad in itself, as it tastes like a combination of pineapple, banana, peach, strawberry, and vanilla. The pulp, which is extremely creamy and custard–like, melts in the mouth. Meanwhile, the sweet and refreshing cherimoya is slightly tangy too. 

Its health benefits
According to Jerlyn Jones of the renowned health portal Healthline, here are the best benefits of cherimoya:
a) It supports immunity
b) It fights inflammation
c) It has anticancer properties 
d) It can promote better digestion
e) The fruit can prevent high blood pressure
f) It's high in antioxidants

Frequently Asked Questions
1. What's the right way to eat the fruit cherimoya?
Culinary experts say that eating cherimoya is an art, as you need to be careful about certain things to enjoy its real flavour. Wash the fruit and cut it in half. Eating refrigerated cherimoya tastes exactly like having a scoop of delicious ice cream. The black seeds of cherimoya are poisonous, so make sure to remove them. 

2. Is it ok to swallow or chew cherimoya seeds?
Cherimoya seeds should not be swallowed or chewed. The best way to eat cherimoya is to scoop the creamy pulp using a spoon and spit out all the seeds.  

3. How to choose the best cherimoya fruit?
It is ok to buy raw cherimoya with a hard shell. The fruit will ripen easily at room temperature. The green colour turns darker or greyish when the fruit ripens. You could eat the fruit if it slightly yields when you gently press it with your fingers. The ripe fruit could be stored in the fridge for up to three to five days. Cherimoya is often hailed as a naturally sweet dessert with amazing nutritional value, too. 

4. What is the nutritional quality of cherimoya?
Cherimoya boasts excellent nutritional quality and taste. It is a storehouse of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and fibre. Potassium and magnesium relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Meanwhile, vitamin C boosts the body's immune system. High fibre intake eases digestion and reduces cholesterol levels. Lutein helps improve eyesight and prevent eye diseases like cataracts. Cherimoya can reduce chronic inflammation in the body and, hence, prevent heart diseases and diabetes.
5. Does cherimoya have any toxic compounds?
In small amounts, cherimoya has toxic compounds in its seeds and skin. Therefore, avoid consuming them.