The canistel tree can grow up to 8 meters tall, with a trunk that reaches 1 meter in circumference. Additionally, this fruit has multiple nutritional and medicinal properties.
Its fruits
The canistel fruits are ovoid and can reach a length of up to 15 cm.
They have an orange-yellow color, as does its pulp, which has a starchy texture and resembles the yolk of a cooked egg; it has a sweet flavor and contains 1-3 brown ovoid seeds.
The weight of the fruit varies between 150 and 500 g.
Canistel fruits are highly valued for their high nutritional content, as they are rich in vitamin B3, vitamin A, and have a high content of antioxidant ascorbic acid; furthermore, the tree's bark is used in decoctions for its astringent function, and a preparation made from its seeds is used as a remedy for ulcers.
Canistels are consumed fresh, in smoothies, ice creams, and are used in baking.
The religious significance of the plant
There have always been connections between food and religious myths, especially in Cuba, where it manifests in Santería rituals, illustrating the correlation between the diet of the orishas (saints) and the well-being of believers.
Each orisha has its favorite dish, and devotees of the orisha Ochún offer canistel in honey syrup, which is one of Ochún’s preferred dishes, as it is prepared in honey syrup with orange peels; according to beliefs, after a bath, Ochún delights in the fruit and the honey syrup dish.
