tiny pink flowers on a starfruit tree
One of my neighbours has a starfruit tree in her small garden. I saw many pretty but tiny pink flowers on her tree.
The starfruit is a juicy tropical fruit grown throughout Southeast Asia. Due to the hot weather and H1N1 pandemic, I was advised by my elders to drink more starfruit juice. They are a great source of Vitamin C and will cool down the body system.
For anyone who is trying to lose weight, this fruit has only 30 calories plus lots of fiber. :D They are full of antioxidants and flavonoids. Very healthy fruit!
When ripe, starfruit turns a bright yellow.
When you cut the fruit, each slice has a star shape. They taste sour when unripe. I prefer to eat the ripe ones because they are sweet. Besides making juice with the starfruit, I also cook it in a few ways. They make salads look pretty.
unripe starfruits
Note : I'm still having problems uploading my photos to Blogger. grrrr.....
PhotoHunt
photohuntFirst Commenter - YSTL
Starfruits may be just 30 calories each but the problem is that I like eating them dipped in... sugar! ;b
ReplyDeleteWaaaah, am I really first? If so, it's a first for me on your blog, eastcoastlife!!! :D
ReplyDeleteSome say star fruits are too acidic. Eat in moderation if you cannot resist them.
ReplyDeleteWahhhhh, YTSL!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! You're the FC of this post!
You dip them in sugar, I dip them in black soy sauce with chilli padi!! hehe.....
stanley,
ReplyDeleteReally?
I usually eat the ripe yellow ones. Might be too cooling if eaten in large quantities. :P.
I grew up in a tropical country like yours and we have this starfruit too but I haven't really tried it yet.
ReplyDeleteI see in the supermarket every once in a while and your post makes me want to try them for the first time. Do I have to peel the skin?
Aiya! Missed FC! : (
ReplyDeleteI like starfruits though they are no match for pineapples, which is my favourite fruit. Oh I forgot durian is my most favourite fruit! Haha!
ReplyDeleteYes, starfruits are healthy and contain lots of fibre! And I like to eat them when cut in star shapes : )
ReplyDeleteInteresting to know that this starfruit tree bears pink flowers.
ReplyDeleteI also have problems uploading photos to Blogger. Whatever photos you see on my blog posts that were published recently were actually uploaded weeks ago.
We can grow them here in Florida, too. One of my neighbors has a tree, and they are delicious when fully ripe & sweet. Nice shots, this week!
ReplyDeletei miss eating this fruit, balimbing is how we call it in Philippines. Last time I ate that was during my teenage. Too rare to find it anywhere maybe in provinces. I don't remember it being sweet, I think I tasted mostly unripe fruits.
ReplyDeletehappy weekend ECL!
Ayie,
ReplyDeleteStarfruit is called belimbing in Malay. :)
I eat them dipped in soy sauce, with sugar and lots of chilli padi too. Yummy!
yeah I remember somebody told me that the other day...wait was it foong or tekkaus? Basta any of those guys =) hehe we have many similar or nearly similar sounding words
ReplyDeleteGood morning to everybody there and it's time for me to sleep here. nytynyt!
Eastcoastlife,
ReplyDeleteI remember that I had quite many starfruit trees in my house.
After school, I used newspaper and made it round shape and then wrap the baby starfruit. It was to prevent bees or hornets from disturbing/stinging.
It was nice to see starfruit's flowers.
Happy blogging, have the nice weekend.
Aloha!
ReplyDeleteAhh..the starfruit! Nice entry for this week's PH theme.
Hope you have time to stop by my pinks as well.
Thank you,
Cindy O
i love star fruits. they are exquisitely juicy and sweet.
ReplyDeletei only take them in moderation though. healthy individuals should beware of this fruit's potential toxin too.
ReplyDeleteHi ECL,
ReplyDeletewow I just saw that fruit in one of homes here in my village hehehe so that is what it is called.
PS.
Tag your it :) check it out here :) http://emptystreets27.blogspot.com/2009/07/empty-streets-special-we-are-world-meme.html
hehe have a great weekend dear :) xoxo
how u cook it ah?
ReplyDeleteI'd neve seen teh blossom of a star fruit before. Beautiful. It's been a long time since I've eaten one too
ReplyDeleteI have seen those fruits but I was wondering what they taste like. Thanks for letting us know!
ReplyDeleteFruits are healthy in general..
ReplyDeletebut star fruits should be avoided for people with kidney problems..
check out Wikipedia on Kidney Stones:
Caution should be exercised in eating certain foods, such as starfruit, with high concentrations of oxalate which may precipitate acute renal failure in patients with chronic renal disease.
Nonetheless.. moderation is the key word here.. like what Singapore health promotion board advocates: Eat all foods in moderation!
Have a nice weekend!
Thanks for the before and after pics. I have not heard of the fruit here in my state. I ever see them, I will have to try them out.
ReplyDeleteHey EC! Those do look like a pleasure to eat and the added benefits can't be beat!
ReplyDeleteECL, thanks for this info. I did not know that the flowers are pink. I have tried this fruit while growing up in the Phils, but never got a chance to buy it here, they are considered as exotic fruit and very expensive.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Beautiful little pink flowers, perfect for this week's PH theme!
ReplyDeleteLove those tiny flowers growing on the tree, so very special! I have seen the fruit at the store but I haven't tried it yet. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend, ECL!!!!
Never saw that, but I am not very botanical, lol !
ReplyDeletethe flower is verylovely, ecl!
ReplyDeleteand starfruit? hmmm i miss that fruit so much. we used to have a neighbor with lots of starfruit trees and we used to pick the fruits for free! I love that with a little salt.
my pink is now up!
Don't eat this fruit too much or stomach ache will come.
ReplyDeleteGreat contribution to the theme - looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend :-)
I have had these before and they were quite nice. It doesn't help though if you dip them in a cream cheese, powdered sugar and marshmallow fluff dip that we make. Good, but blows the calorie count.
ReplyDeleteMy pinks are up here.
I like them sweet and cold out of the fridge.Its a refreshing fruit.Kind of firm on the outside but soft on the inside.I never thought about marrying them with a salade.Will try it!
ReplyDeleteI use to eat that starfruit we call it in our country balingbing....Thanks for the comments....
ReplyDeleteInteresting post as always ECL. We get the fruit here in the stores but I have never seen the pink flowers before.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend and thanks for the visit.
I think we call that fruit here in RP as 'balimbing" if I'm not mistaken. I love munching it fresh from the trees everytime I go on vacation in the province. :)
ReplyDeleteI like starfruits too. Better eat them as it is, juice doesn't have as many benefits. Never see the tree or flower before though XD
ReplyDeleteoh wow, i love starfruit! we used to have a tree in our backyard when i was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of these before. Great pics ECL!
ReplyDeleteStarfruit juice with a pinch of salt perfect for a sore-throat!! :P
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for your post. I am more interested in how to choose good and sweat star fruit though. I always choose though very soar ones ...
ReplyDeleteI just can't tell when it is ripe ...
I've never seen starfruit flowers before - so pretty, but then the fruit is pretty too when it's sliced. We only get them in the supermarket here and they rarely seem ripe. I've been reading the comments and the various ways of eating them. I must try them again. And you can cook them too?
ReplyDeleteThe starfruit flowers are indeed pretty! I have eaten star fruit before, it is imported here, but it must be so much better to get it fresh from the tree!
ReplyDeletelove the tree flowers! By the way, I just don't travel enough.. I hope to be travel a lot more.. just working on the logistics of all of that...
ReplyDeleteStarfruits is great for high blood pressure too!
ReplyDeletewow i love those beautiful tiny pink flowers!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI also prefer to eat the ripe ones :)
ReplyDeletestarfruit! i like! =D
ReplyDeletei love the looks of sliced star fruits..
ReplyDeleteI've tried starfruit a couple of times. It always looks pretty in a fruit salad, but I don't really like it :-( The pink flowers are pretty though :-)
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely and dainty flowers. I think my MIL has a star fruit tree.
ReplyDelete