Sapodilla
Manilkara zapota (L.) P.Royen
Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is an evergreen tree of the sapodilla family; its round, pale-brown fruit holds honey-sweet brownish flesh with shiny black seeds — mainly eaten fresh, while the latex yields chicle.
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Sapodilla
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Sapodilla
SapodillaSapodillaSapodilla fruitOverview
Sapodilla is an evergreen tree 5–15 m tall with a rounded crown, all parts exuding white latex. Its alternate oval leaves are glossy green and clustered at the branch tips. Small creamy-white flowers grow singly in the leaf axils. The berry is spherical to oval, 5–10 cm long, with slightly rough pale-brown skin; the flesh is brownish-yellow and honey-sweet, containing 2–5 flat shiny black seeds.
Sapodilla originated in Central America and Mexico and is grown throughout the tropics; in Vietnam it is cultivated widely in the south, notably the 'sapodilla xoài' of Tiền Giang and Bến Tre. The ripe fruit is eaten fresh or made into smoothies and ice cream; its latex (chicle) was once used for chewing gum, and the seeds and leaves are used in folk medicine as a dewormer (with caution). The wood is hard and valuable.
Life cycle
From seed to productGrafting
Propagated by **grafting**: use a vigorous rootstock and compatible scion, grafting buds or branches at the start of the growing season.
Callus & sprouting
The graft union calluses within 2–4 weeks and the scion buds break.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **small white flowers, almost year-round**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Maturity & harvest
Foliage dies back and reserves move into the underground storage organ; **fruits picked year-round, peak in summer–autumn**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Mexico & Central America30%
- Vietnam20%
- Others50%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Natural sugarsDeep sweetness50%
- Vitamin CAntioxidant25%
- TanninsSlightly astringent skin25%
Uses
- Ripe fruit eaten fresh or blended
- Ice cream and jam
- Latex as chicle; seeds and leaves in folk use
Properties
- Taste
- Honey-sweet, lightly aromatic
- Value
- Rich in sugars, vitamin C, tannins
Habitat & conservation
Humid tropics; deep, well-drained soil; sun-loving.
Conservation
Widely cultivated in the tropics; not threatened.
References
- 1Kew Science – Plants of the World Online: Manilkara zapota — Kew (Plants of the World Online), 2026
- 2Wikipedia – Sapodilla — Wikipedia, 2026