Monday, March 12, 2012

CUSTARD APPLE (AATHA CHAKKA)


INTRODUCTION TO LESSER KNOWN
VEGETABLES AND FRUIT SPECIES OF KERALA
VOL. 12




COMMON NAME:-   CUSTARD APPLE

OTHER NAMES:
BULLOCK’S HEART,
ramphal,
sugar apple,
sweetsop,
anon,
coeur de boeuf,
                             coracao de boi,
                             Corazon,
Kasjoema,
                             chirimoya roia,
boeah nona,
                             anona rosada,
mammon,
                             anona de seso,
                             Araticum ape,
                             Jamaica apple,
                             Cachiman,
Alacalyoua.

BOTANIC NAME: -       Annona reticulata 


MALAYALAM NAME: -  AATHA,
                                AATHA CHAKKA.  
CUSTARD APPLE


The Custard apple  is believed to be native of the West Indies.
Custard apple plant is a perennial, erect, slender, and medium-sized with many branches and grows up to a height of 2-3 meters. The leaves are ill-smelling and deciduous. 
  Flowers, in drooping clusters, are fragrant, slender, with 3 outer fleshy, narrow petals 2 to 3 cm long pale-yellow in colour. The flowers never fully open.  
Annona reticulata leaves
Fruits with sweet custard-like pulp are from 10 to 15 cm  in diameter with a lumpy green skin and upon maturity the fruit has a red skin. 
  
NUTRITIVE VALUE:-
The Nutritional composition per 100g of  Custard apple  :
Energy    310 - 420kJ,
Protein      1 - 4.3g,
Carbohydrate      23.71g,
Calories         76 - 96cal,
Vitamin B1   0.05 - 0.08mg,
Vitamin B2  0.08 - 0.1mg,
Vitamin B3  0.5 - 0.8mg ,
 Vitamin A     1mg,
Vitamin C      22 - 43mg ,
Natural Sugar     14 - 18g ,
Iron    0.7mg,
Zinc     0.2 - 2.6mg,
 Magnesium     32 - 80mg,
 Copper    2.4mg,
 Potassium    250 - 570mg,
 Sodium      4 - 14mg,
 Calcium     17 - 22mg,
 Fibre          1 - 3.2g .       

MEDICINAL VALUE:-

Custard apples contain anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, which helps to fight free radicals in our body.
 Presence of potassium and magnesium  protects  heart from cardiac disease.It also controls  blood pressure.
Vitamin A  keeps our skin and hair healthy.
The copper content helps to cure constipation, and helps to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.
Annona reticulata Seedling


FOOD VALUE:-
The matured fruits have a custard like white pulp with small black seeds and the sweet flesh is eaten fresh or used for milkshakes and ice creams.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION:-
 
The custard apple plant can easily establish by  seed. Seed can be sown either directly or in containers. No seed treatment is required. 

Annona reticulata leaf

10 comments:

K.P.Sukumaran said...

Good post..

Anonymous said...

very gud informations.. thnx alot

Anonymous said...

Rare in kerala nowadays!

Rajesh Purushothaman said...

Very useful. It is very rare, but I remember during my child hood eating it. We used to keep it in the ash so that it will ripe perfect. The taste was amazing!!!!

Geethu Elsa Mathews said...

Thanks for the detailed information...i have one tree at my home and i made ice cream with this...got appreciation from my guests...

Unknown said...

It is really a good fruit , bigger and better than seethapazham which you can buy from market. But aatha chakka is not seen in shops. Still i have 2 trees at palakkad
ph. 9400773747

Anonymous said...

ITS IS REALLY VERY IMPORTANT FRUIT FOR HUMAN BODY. PLEASE SHARE THE ATHA SAKKA FRUIT VALUES TO YOUR FRIENDS. I AM DECIDED TO TAKE THIS IN FRESH AND PURCHASE THE FRUIT AT MY RELATIVE IN KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT.

G BABU
TIRUNELVELI

Unknown said...

I have two trees

Unknown said...

This is very good for facial scrub. People allergic to soap can use this. Body clean and smooth good

Unknown said...

Confirm its good for sugar patients