Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine February 2017

LOOK OUT FOR…
¡Ay, Carambola!
by Lynn Kaak
LYNN KAAK
the tree, which also means that the tree may bear fruit all year long. The flowers
are often seen interspersed with the maturing fruit. The small white or lavender
(sometimes with a blend) flowers grow directly off the branches. Be careful if you
take a look, as the flowers are very popular with bees, while birds may beat you to
the ripe fruit.
Starfruit can be canned, pickled, candied, preserved and makes a novel and decorative
alternative to pineapple in an upside-down cake. It can also be eaten raw, like
an apple — the waxy skin and the small seeds are all completely edible. The crisp
juiciness is refreshing, but if you pick the fruit before it becomes a dark yellow, the
acidity may be a little too much to enjoy. Should you wait too long, the fruit becomes
bland and somewhat mushy. When sliced, the “star” shape is quite pronounced, and
makes a decorative addition to a fruit plate or a salad.
VEGAN FEAST CATERING
FEBRUARY 2017 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 36
What a star! This juicy, tart and fun-shaped fruit can add dazzle to almost any meal
As you travel through the Caribbean, every month there’s something special
to look out for.
The starfruit — also known as carambola or five-finger — is a very recognizable
fruit. With its unusual shape, there is very little doubt as to its identity when seen
in local markets, and its combination of a little sweet with a bit more tart makes for
a unique taste, with hints of grape and citrus. Starfruit has a relatively low sugar
content, which makes it a friendly fruit for those watching their sugar intake.
However, like grapefruit, it reacts with the liver with certain medications.
For centuries, starfruit has been a favourite in India and other places in that part
of the world. It isn’t a surprise that the Europeans introduced it to the New World
both for fruit and as an ornamental tree. It has spread throughout the Tropics and
Subtropics, and is also a reasonably viable commercial crop. In the Caribbean, for
the most part, it is more of a novelty or garden piece.
The tree is slow growing, and takes some time to attain its typical six- to ninemetre
(20- to 30-foot) height. As typical of many of the trees that grow in the
Caribbean, it likes regular rain, but prefers well-drained soil. It can take short periods
of freezing temperatures, but prefers warmth, and can grow in altitudes up to
about 1,200 metres (4,000 feet). It is a true sun lover, and likes full exposure.
Unlike many of the trees introduced to the Caribbean, the Averrhoa carambola L. can
be grown from seeds with relative ease. Mature seeds can germinate within a week
with the appropriate soil. For commercial operations though, grafting is still the preferred
method. It takes four to five years for a tree to reach maturity and bear fruit.
The flowers may appear all year, or at certain times, depending on location and
The best anchorages are only
in Don Street’s Caribbean pilots
When cruising the Caribbean be sure
to have Street’s guides on board as
your primary PILOT. Only Street has:
Inter-island and harbour pilotage
Tidal information
All eastern Caribbean anchorages
Street’s pilotage information is timeless
and is your key to a quiet night’s
sleep in unspoilt anchorages!
Other guides are best for shore-side
information & are provided to the charter
fleets so what harbours & anchorages
they do include are more crowded.
Street’s pilots include: south east & east
coast Grenada, the south & east coast of
Carriacou, & the east coasts of Cannouan
& Martinique. These are not covered
by other guides but Street considers
them the best in the eastern Caribbean
now Venezuela is no longer safe.
The perfect pilotage companion
for all the other guides
Order online
USA/Caribbean:
iUniverse or Amazon
(search Donald M. Street)
UK/Europe: www.imray.com
(search: Don Street)