The Foodie Press: Soursop

​Soursop  has recently been in the news and plastered across health food sites all over the internet as a result of a controversial segment on Doctor Oz. Now, we can’t speak to the purported health benefits, but we were curious about this oversized, prickly fruit, particularly since it has only recently found its way into the Produce Department of Jungle Jim’s International Market.

Grown predominately internationally, soursop is native to hot, humid climates, and it grows on a broad-leafed evergreen tree found typically in Central and South America, as well as Cuba, and the Caribbean islands of Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico. It has even been commercially grown as far north as Florida. This fruit has actually been one of the most highly-requested imports at Jungle Jim’s for almost three years.

​The first thing that surprised us about soursop was its weight; the one we picked up was about the size of a grapefruit, and it weighed over a pound, which definitely was a shock to the system when we lifted it out of the bin.  Apparently, though, our fruit was the runt of the litter; some soursop can grow to be up to 15 pounds.

Our experts in the Produce Department told us that the fruit should be soft like a peach when it’s ripe, so after buying it, we let our soursop ripen for about a day and a half. To be honest, it got a little overripe, and we’d recommend waiting slightly less time before eating it. The white flesh was similar in texture to a cross between pineapple and banana, which is also fairly descriptive of the flavor, although there were hints of strawberry as well; it was hardly sour at all, in direct contradiction to its name.

All in all, it was an interesting experience, and we’re eager to try it again, this time slicing it open a little earlier.

Have you tried soursop? What did you think? Let us know!