Atis or ” Custard Apple ” or ” Sugar Apple “

The Atis Fruit in English ‘Custard Apple‘ or internationally the ‘Sweet Sop’ is a fruit you can easily grow even with just one meter of soil. Belonging to the Annonna family ( Custard Apple Family ), these are native to the Caribbean, Northern South America, and Central America. Introduced to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries during the Spanish times. Eaten as a form of dessert or snack, with its leaves, barks, and stems used as herbal medicine.

Custard Apple Origins

What is Atis ? Also known as ‘Custard Apple’, ‘Sweetsop’, or ‘Sugar Apple’, is part of the Annonaceae family (Annona squamosa or some know as Annona Reticulata ). Originating from Central America who distributed it to Mexico, then throughout the tropical regions in America. It made its way to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization, where it was planted and cultivated, and now found almost everywhere in the Philippines.

Some Atis Information :

• Custard Apple Tree Size : The Atis tree grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet when fully matured.
• Custard Apple Leaf : These have hairy, oblong shaped leaves.
• Custard Apple Fruit: It has a heart shaped fruit with polygonal tubercles bumpy leathery skin, when opened, you’ll find a white to light yellow flesh in inedible blackish brown hard shiny seeds that are 12-18mm long.
• Custard Apple Season : This seasonal fruit usually seen in the months of September to December.
• Custard Apple Nutrition Data : It has a good amount of fiber, calcium, beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid. Check out more custard apple benefits down below.
• Atis tastes like a sweet mix of pineapple and bananas, with a custard-like texture, where it takes its English name from.

The Atis has many uses aside from being a delicious snack to being turned into a refreshing custard apple juice. But these are still being used as traditional medicine; from the fruit being applied on insect bites to cure the infected skin, using the leaves’ scent being used to help with dizziness, or being boiled down similarly to tea to increase menstrual flow. Can you eat the seeds of a custard apple ? The seeds are crushed and mixed with water, turning it to paste, and rubbing it on the scalp to kill head lice, and barks that are boiled and used as a tonic or drink to treat diarrhea.

Atis Benefits (Custard Apple benefits) 

To start, the sweet delicious custard apple fruit contains many nutritional attributes such as fiber, calcium, phosphorus beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid. Consumed fresh or in the form of a dessert, this fruit possesses a lot of healing properties. Here are examples on how Atis is beneficial to the body:

• Custard apple cancer benefits ? Prevents chronic illnesses like cancer and heart disease. Being rich in antioxidants.
• Benefits the eyes, high in carotenoids that are also great for reducing risks of age related macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Promotes good digestion, being high in fiber, it also has an anti inflammatory effect.
• Prevents high blood pressure, having 10% of the body’s daily need of potassium and 6% of magnesium.
• Can boost your mood. A source of Vitamin B6 that plays a role in creating neurotransmitters that helps regulate your mood.
• Custard apple also has an effect during pregnancy. Eating custard apple during pregnancy helps with the development of the fetus since this have both Vitamin A and C.
• Can you eat Custard Apple During Breastfeeding ? Yes, this fruit is generally safe to consume since it is nutrient-rich. It helps the mother recover and produce more milk. But do note that this should be eaten in moderation.

* Do note that the custard apple does have disadvantages, one should not eat the seed as these are highly irritant, and may have toxic effects on the eyes and skin. 

* Eating custard apple for weight loss ? Custard apple calories amount to 94 calories per 100 grams. Eating a lot might not be suitable for those looking to loose weight.

You can also use these in these Yummy Recipes :

Custard Apple vs Soursop

While both the fruits are related to each other, there is quite a number of differences:

• Custard Apples are rounder with segmented skin with greenish, yellowish, or reddish skin with brownish patches once ripe. Soursop are heart or oblong shaped with a green skin that has soft spines all over.
• Custard Apples are sweeter, with some saying it has vanilla undertones. Some compare this to a mix of papaya, mango, and pear. Soursop is tart and slightly tangy, with the flavor described as a mix of citrus, strawberry, and pineapple.
• Texture-wise Custard Apples feel soft and creamy. Soursops are more fibrous.

Custard Apple vs Sugar Apple

• While the names are used interchangeably. The small differences are that the Custard apple has smoother skin, the coloring of this being brownish or reddish in color. While the Sugar Apple is rounder and knobby in shape, with segmented skin that separates easily once ripened.
• Texture wise, these are both similar to one another.
• In terms of flavor, the Sugar apple is sweeter, sometimes it even has a minty-like taste.

How to prepare Atis leaves ?

While the fruit itself has some advantages, the leaves can also be beneficial. Used as a traditional herbal medicine, to help with fevers and dizziness, slow down sugar absorption, for healthier skin, and increase menstrual flow. Here is how to do it:

• For soothing effects, to alleviate fainting and dizziness, place some leaves on your hands and crush them slightly till the scent seems stronger. Inhale a bit at a time.
• To induce menstruation and to drink it as a tonic for healthier skin; wash the leaves in running water, then boil 2 – 3 leaves together with water for a few minutes or till the water slightly changes in color, drinking it similarly like tea.

How to Eat Custard Apple ( Paano kumain ng Atis ? )

• To eat it as is; simply slice the fruit in half using a knife, discard the seeds before scooping out the flesh. This is recommended to be eaten chilled or at room temperature.
• Add these in salads to make Atis Salad, to add extra texture and sweetness to acai bowls, or to smoothies.
• Incorporate these in baked goods by blending it into puree, as a marmalade or jam. Adding in custards, pies, and other custard apple recipes.

This Delicious and nutritious snack, eaten raw,added into baked goods, or turned into a drink. A great option for fruit lovers who want something sweet, creamy, with an interesting flavor to end the day.