Ambarella (June Plum)
Spondias dulcisAn oval tropical fruit with a sour-sweet aroma between mango and pineapple when ripe, turning yellow-orange. Its unripe green form is also used for pickling and salads.
What Is Ambarella?
Ambarella (also called “June plum” or “golden apple” in English) is an oval tropical fruit native to the South Pacific and now widely grown in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and West Africa (Spondias dulcis).
When ripe, its skin turns yellow-orange, and its flesh has a sweet-tart aroma somewhere between mango and pineapple. Unripe green fruit is firmer and more tart; it is used for pickles, salads, and chutney.
Ambarella Nutrition Facts
Ripe, raw ambarella provides approximately 40 kcal of energy per 100 g; it is high in vitamin C and fiber. Values are approximate.
How Should Ambarella Be Eaten?
As a source of vitamin C and fiber, ambarella can be part of a balanced diet; ripe fruit is eaten raw, while green fruit is usually processed (for example, into pickles or salad).
This is general information. Ambarella is a food and is not a substitute for medical treatment.
How to Choose Ambarella
Ripe ambarella has yellow-orange skin, gives slightly when pressed gently, and has a sweet, tropical aroma. Firm green fruit is unripe but suitable for pickling.
- For ripe fruit, the skin should be yellow-orange.
- It should give slightly when pressed gently.
- For green uses, choose fruit with firm, glossy skin.
How to Store Ambarella
Leave unripe ambarella at room temperature; after it ripens, it is recommended to consume it within 2–3 days when refrigerated.
How to Use Ambarella in the Kitchen
Ambarella is used most often eaten fresh when ripe or in smoothies, and when green in pickles, tart salads, and chutney. It is common in Caribbean and Southeast Asian cuisines.
Can You Eat the Ambarella Seed?
No. The hard, fibrous, spiny seed in the center is inedible; cut the fruit flesh away from the seed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ambarella more often used green or ripe?
It varies by region and recipe: in the Caribbean, ripe, sweet fruit is eaten fresh, while in Southeast Asia the green, tart fruit is used more often in pickles and salads.
Is ambarella a plum?
No. Despite the name “June plum,” it is not botanically related to plums (Prunus); it belongs to a different fruit genus (Spondias). The resemblance is only in the name.
Is ambarella available in Türkiye?
It is not generally available; it may rarely be found as an imported fruit from some exotic-fruit vendors.