Ever wished for chocolate to fit into one of the five food groups? Well, the Black Sapote is about as close as you can get to a dream come true.
Commonly known as the Chocolate Pudding Plant, this tree produces delicious fruit with the taste and consistency of – you guessed it – chocolate pudding! We spoke to April Heard, the Manager of our STEPS Garden Centre (and our resident plant extraordinaire!) about this unique plant.
“We see so many people come to the STEPS Garden Centre and they’re so fascinated by this tree, and for good reason. It almost sounds too good to be true,” she said.
“It’s a dessert that grows on a tree, but it’s also low in fat and an excellent source of Vitamin C. It actually has about four times as much Vitamin C as an orange!”
How to grow Black Sapote
A species of the Persimmon plant, the Black Sapote is native to Mexico, Central America and Colombia – and it’s also available in our STEPS Garden Centre.
Black Sapotes can grow in a few different types of soil, but they are best nourished with moisty sandy loam. Be sure to water them regularly, especially when the weather gets hot and dry.
Fruiting can take 4-8 years from seed, but the STEPS Garden Centre has saplings ready to be planted in your soil, making the wait that much shorter (and sweeter).
How to eat Black Sapote
The fruit should be picked when it’s green and hard. You’ll know it’s ready for consumption once it softens and goes brown, typically within 3-6 days of picking.
The Black Sapote picking can be refrigerated for up to a week. You can eat it as is or use it as a chocolate substitute in your recipes.
It’s most commonly used for brownies, but it works just as well in smoothies and ice cream. In its native Mexico, the fruit is blended with orange juice and served as a refreshing summer drink.
Where to buy Black Sapote
Mouth watering already? What are you waiting for? Head down to the STEPS Garden Centre between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Sunday, and get your very own Chocolate Pudding Plant.
Profits made at the STEPS Garden Centre go directly towards creating a brighter future for young people with a disability and autism at our STEPS Pathways College.
