Exotic Star Fruit - Carambola

Exotic Star Fruit - Carambola

Family: Oxalidaceae

It is believed the star fruit originated in either Sri Lanka or the Moluccas (islands of Indonesia).

The term star fruit, however, is the most popular name, which is derived from the fact that each slice of the fruit resembles a five-pointed star.

The fruit is a fleshy 4- to 5-celled berry with a waxy surface. Fruit are 2 to 6 inches (5-15 cm) in length, with 5 (rarely 4-8) prominent longitudinal ribs; star-shaped in cross section. The fruit skin is thin, light to dark yellow, and smooth, with a waxy cuticle.

Carambolas are primarily sold as a fresh fruit.However, processing into pickles, sauces, wine, and jellies is done on a limited scale.

Similar to that of a tart apple when green. It sweetens when the fruit becomes yellow.

The entire fruit can be eaten, even the waxy skin. The fruit is best eaten when it is firm, yellow with a tinge of green, and the ridges are brown. Eaten fresh, it can be added to salads as a garnish and to drinks. Fruits can be pickled or preserved, made into jellies or jams. Fruit can be used as a stain remover on cloth and skin, and as brass polish.

In these Asian countries, the Carambola has many different names:belimbing, Chinese star fruit, five-angled fruit, five fingers, and the star apple.

It spread throughout Asia and has been cultivated there for centuries. It is commonly grown in southern China, India, and the Philippines. The fruit is relatively new to North and South America. It was first introduced to Florida in 1887 but is viewed as a decorative fruit and has not been planted on a wide scale. Star fruit was introduced to the Caribbean islands, Central America, South America, and Hawaii in 1935.

Today, star fruit is widely grown and consumed in Asia. The fruit is growing in popularity in the United States. To meet this increasing need, the fruit is now commercially grown in Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Star Fruit Names

In Asia alone, the fruit has over 20 different names, but most commonly is some variation of belimbing. When Spanish and Portuguese explorers arrived in Asia they adapted the Indian word karambal and renamed the fruit carambola – which is still used today.  The fruit was later renamed star fruit due to the shape made when it’s cut.

The starfruit is a fleshy, juicy fruit with a texture that is almost citrus, though ithas also been compared to plum or guava.  The flavor, like those of an apple, ranges from tart to sweet, depending on which variety you sample.

The Carambola tree was introduced to southern Florida in the 1880s, and later on into Hawaii, but was viewed solely as a conversation piece because of its unique shape. It was only with the advent of the health conscious craze of the late 1990's that the star fruit began to come into its own as a tasty and health-giving treat.

An average-size star fruit has 40 calories, 5 of those from fat. It has 10 grams of carbohydrates, 15% of daily requirements of Vitamin A, and 45% of daily requirements of Vitamin C.

Although star fruit has great health giving properties, people with kidney diseases must avoid it.


1. Star fruit is harvested when the green fruit has a tint of yellow.

2.  When the fruit is cut crosswise, it forms a perfect star.

3. Star fruits do not need to be peeled or seeded they can be eaten whole

4. Two varieties of star fruit are grown – tart and sweet

5. Early English travelers called the star fruit the “cucumber tree” when discovering the plant in Asia.