The Star Fruit, as it is called in English-speaking countries such as Kenya, in Italy it is little known by the name of Carambola, which comes from its plant, the Averrhoa Carambola.
Besides the name of the same plant, native to the Malay Peninsula and Oxalidacee belonging to the family, it comes from the shape of the fruit, which resembles a star. The ripe fruits are oval, light yellow, with five pointed lobes which are arranged vertically along the surface.
Cutting the fruit in width, the shape of each slice reminds own a five-pointed star.
From the eighteenth century, it was imported to Europe to make a fine show in the banquets of nobles and King, as decoration.
Today, however, you begin to appreciate for its amazing quality.
The carambola contains a very long list of essential nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins, but at the same time is low in sugar (100 grams of pulp have only 31 calories).
The waxy skin provides a good amount of dietary fiber. The fiber helps prevent the absorption of cholesterol LDL.
The fruit has digestive properties, is very astringent when immature. You can recognize its maturation by color, a yellow-orange decided.
The Star Fruit has found use in traditional medicine for the treatment of certain disease states, such as headache, nausea, cough, insomnia, hypertension and diabetes.
As for the therapeutic properties the carambola is rich in vitamin C, which has antioxidant properties and strengthens the immune system - potassium, which helps to balance the presence of liquids in the body and is an efficient support to the cardiovascular system - and fiber that regularize the 'intestine.
E 'can also use the fruit green, squeezed in dishes such as a lemon or sliced ​​in salads. The taste of the carambola is a mixture of different fruits, such as lemon, pineapple, plums.
The juice is distallano also delicious liquor and pulp can be turned into candied fruit.