Canistel ‘Arue’ (Pouteria Campechiana)

Canistel, also known as Eggfruit, Yellow Sapote or Tiesa, is a tropical evergreen tree commonly found in Southern Mexico, Central America, and parts of Southeast Asia. In the wild it can generally be found in wetland forests in areas of low elevation. It’s a fast growing plant, that prefers well drained soil and good amounts of sunlight. 

The fruit has an amazing flavor, tasting like maple syrup coated sweet potatoes! The texture is simultaneously smooth, dry, creamy, and flaky. It is a large tropical evergreen tree that can even be dwarfed with the right amount of commitment. It has small fragrant flowers.

Canistel should be harvested when fruit turn yellow-orange. Allowing fruit 3 to 10 days to ripen at room temperature (76–82°F; 24–28°C). Ripe fruit is soft but not mushy. Will grow well in a container as long as you provide enough space for root growth. Overwinter indoors once temperatures reach freezing.  Medicinally the plant can be used for treating skin issues, using fresh leaves, flowers, or fruit to make a poultice or extract. Economically, it can be used as a source of latex.