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The Calabash Tree: 4. Extracting fruit juice

YC Wee
on 14th November 2017

Earlier posts on this series: 1. The Plant, 2. Flowers and bees, … 3

One of the fruits of the Calabash Tree (Crescentia cujete) dropped from the branch yesterday. It was still green – not sure whether it was because of its weight or because it had ripened. Tinny G Unciano was eager to process the fruit for its juice, being inspired by a YouTube clip she viewed earlier.

The flesh of the Calabash fruit is white.
The flesh of the Calabash fruit is white.

Besides, the plant is called Miracle Fruit in the Philippines as it is reputed to have many health benefits LINK 1, LINK 2, LINK 3, LINK 4, among many others.

During cooking, the white flesh turns black.
During cooking, the white flesh turns black.

Preparation included sawing the fruit into two, scooping out the white pulp, boiling the pulp until it turns black and pouring out the black juice (video below).

We tasted the juice. It was not as bad as it looked. It has a taste of bitterness, sourness, a slight sweetness…?

Tinny drinking the juice. Behind her is a Calabash fruit.
Tinny drinking the juice. Behind her is a Calabash fruit.

Tinny G Unciano & YC Wee
Singapore
19th October 2017

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Bird Society of Singapore: A credible alternative to the Nature Society’s Bird Group

11th December 2023

Singapore-Nature: 17. Citizen Science

30th August 2023

Singapore-Nature: 16. Living close to nature

18th August 2023

Singapore’s secret “garden”

20th July 2023

Singapore-Nature: 15. Looking versus studying birds

12th July 2023

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Any views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

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