Ackee

The ackee is a tropical evergreen tree from West Africa, now widely cultivated in the Caribbean, notably as the national fruit of Jamaica. Its pear-shaped fruits turn red-orange when ripe, splitting open to reveal shiny black seeds partially covered by a creamy, edible aril. This aril has a buttery, nutty flavor when cooked, but it’s crucial to only consume the fruit when it has naturally opened and ripened, as unripe or other parts of the fruit are toxic.

Names

Scientific
   Blighia sapida
English
   Ackee
   Akee
   Akee apple
   Vegetable brain
Dutch
   Aki
French
   Akée
   Aki
German
   Ackee
   Akee
   Aki
   Akipflaume

Taxonomy

Order
   Sapindales
Family
   Sapindaceae
Genus
   Blighia
Species
   Blighia sapida (Ackee)

Crop categories

Fruit vegetables
Minor crops
Tropical crops
Vegetables

Pictures