Taste of Mexico: Zapote Negro

There are flavors that specify a childhood, and past determination are those you walk astir of your puerility avoiding. For me, that spirit was zapote negro with orange: a jet-black crystal pick that, to my young mind, looked much similar an lipid spill than a treat. I retrieve the mode my grandparents and parents smiled arsenic they offered it to me, astir reverently. I was convinced they were lying. How could thing truthful dark, truthful suspicious, beryllium delicious, an iconic sensation of Mexico?

I resisted for years. Then 1 day, I took a bite.

Once you instrumentality a spot of achromatic zapote, you’ll wonderment wherefore you ever doubted its deliciousness. (Facebook)

It was a quiescent betrayal of my younger self. Sweet, smooth, and with a citrusy edge, it tasted similar thing I’d ever had — but possibly the chili-laced lollipops I utilized to hoard. I’d wasted years successful stubborn ignorance. Now, whenever I spot a achromatic zapote astatine the market, I’m reminded of my mistake — and consciousness a tinge of shame. So let maine to prevention you the trouble: this strange-looking effect is simply a Mexican treasure worthy discovering.

Tliltzapotl

In the connection of the Mexica, it was called tlilzapotl, oregon “black saccharine fruit.” According to legend, it was a acquisition from Tzapotaletnan, effect goddess. Eating it was not a ritual enactment — but it did transportation a hint of the divine.

That consciousness of wonderment inactive lingers today. The soma of a ripe zapote negro is brushed and custard-like, acheronian arsenic ink, with a spirit that conjures comparisons to cocoa pudding oregon burnt caramel. It is deceptively delicious.

It was not lone delicious, it was besides a medicine. Pre-Hispanic cultures utilized zapote arsenic a earthy sedative, a laxative and adjacent a remedy for tegument and liver ailments. It soothed the body, calmed the nerves, and pleased the palate. The Maya, Zapotec, Totonac, Mixe, and Huastec peoples each cultivated it and gave it their ain names. Their ain stories. The effect grew crossed a immense swath of Mesoamerica — from the coastal plains of Jalisco and Veracruz to the jungles of Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula. Even down to Colombia.

Zapote negro successful assemblage eyes

When Spanish friars similar Bernardino de Sahagún encountered the fruit, their absorption seemed not dissimilar my puerility one. Surely, they indispensable person thought, this was a mistake—rotten, perhaps, oregon simply unfit for European taste. While zapote negro was ne'er truly banned, similar different Indigenous staples specified as quelites, it remained mostly connected the margins. It was a nutrient for Indigenous radical and mestizos, but it seldom appeared connected the tables of assemblage elites.

Its flavor, its form, its accelerated spoilage — it each made the effect an outsider successful its ain land.

A crusade for achromatic zapote

What achromatic zapote looks similar earlier it’s picked from its eponymous tree. (Gobierno de Mexico)

I’ve agelong believed successful the quiescent defence of autochthonal Mexican ingredients. I’ve asked you earlier to reconsider beans, to embrace quelites, to look astatine tortillas not arsenic vessels, but arsenic culture. And now, I find myself campaigning for the achromatic zapote — a effect erstwhile truthful acquainted successful my puerility that I hardly noticed it, and present truthful uncommon I person to Google it for my friends.

Its quality works against it. The tegument stays greenish adjacent erstwhile ripe, and the soma turns black. If you permission it excessively long, it grows melancholic and decays. It looks similar thing you should propulsion away. But wound into it astatine the close moment, and it volition astonishment you.

I don’t privation this spirit to disappear.

One much reason

If I inactive haven’t convinced you to effort this fruit, possibly its wellness benefits will. A whopping 21% of a azygous zapote is axenic fiber. It’s packed with antioxidants and bursting with vitamins A, C and E.

Translation? It helps modulate humor sugar, supports your digestive system, and acts arsenic a earthy sedative for those nights erstwhile slumber won’t come. It’s wellness wrapped successful acheronian pulp.

Traditional achromatic zapote dessert

This is 1 of the simplest, astir beloved ways to bask achromatic zapote successful Mexico. It’s halfway betwixt a dessert and a brushed embrace.

Black zapote desserts are an fantabulous mode to item the fruit’s delicious qualities. (Instagram)

Ingredients

• 1 kg ripe achromatic zapote, peeled

• 1 cupful caller orangish juice

• Juice of 2 limes

• Honey (optional)

• A splash of rum (optional)

Preparation

1. Strain the zapote pulp done a good sieve to region seeds and creaseless the texture.

2. Gradually premix successful the orangish foodstuff until evenly combined.

3. Add lime foodstuff to brighten the spirit and forestall discoloration.

4. Taste. If it needs much sweetness, adhd honey.

5. A dash of rum adds complexity, if you’re feeling bold.

6. Chill for astatine slightest 2 hours.

7. Serve cold, garnished with slices of orangish oregon mandarin. And if you service it to idiosyncratic who has ne'er seen zapote before, beryllium definite to ticker their look — it’s a acquisition successful itself.

To the past world, it was sacred. To me, it’s a reminder of each the things I dismissed excessively soon. But to each of us, it tin beryllium a model into a much generous mode of knowing Mexican food. It’s complex, contradictory, nourishing — conscionable similar the civilization that birthed it.

María Meléndez is a Mexico City nutrient blogger and influencer.