‘Custard apple’ is UK first for Asda
Asda is claiming a UK first with the launch of cherimoya – an exotic fruit the supermarket describes as having the flavour of toffee custard and the texture of sherbet.
Also known as custard apples – although they are, in fact, not apples – the fruit is native to South America and particularly popular in Spain.
Asda is sourcing its cherimoya from southern Spain through its IPL direct-sourcing arm and is selling them in packs of two for £2.47.
Asda said it decided to bring cherimoya to the UK because its customers were becoming increasingly adventurous when buying fruit, with sales of persimmon, pomegranates and lychees up significantly in recent weeks.
“As soon as the team first tasted custard apples, we knew we had to bring them across for our shoppers to enjoy,” said Asda’s Helen Lear. “We’re certain that the custard apple will become a fruit bowl staple before long.”
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Readers' comments (11)
Yawroc | 18 Apr 2012 18:36
I am glad to see that Asda are stocking this fruit as i was told about these by a dear friend in Hong Kong China. I said i would check out the local supermarkets here and none of them are stocking it. Glad to see Asda are leagues ahead of the rest.. Well done Asda can't wait to try this..
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Anonymous | 29 Apr 2012 4:21
this variety tastes like sherbet, and texture like custard. there are about 5 different varieties. i prefer the asian variety with its dragon scale skin, texture like sand and sweet custard flavour.
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Anonymous | 18 Sep 2012 20:31
Hooray, I have been searching for this fruit for over a year so I can make the 'snow egg' from series 2 of Australian Master Chef.
I shall be keeping an eye out in ASDA.
Happy days.
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Anonymous | 20 Oct 2012 18:21
If you live in, or are visiting West London you can get them from the Portobello Market...2 for £1.50. Less than a third of the cost & all the fun of the market thrown in. I got some this morning.
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Anonymous | 10 Nov 2012 20:40
Bought one for 89p in Morrisons this morning
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Roy Perrott | 11 Nov 2012 13:05
This is hardly groundbreaking. These fruit have been available for years here in London at any half decent market stall or Asian grocer. They are currently available at my local market for 3 for a pound. Instead of lining Asda's pockets, give your local green grocer some business
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andrew james | 20 Nov 2012 7:28
I used to serve hese up at waitrose in the mid 1980's..so asda is bot that ahaead of the game, but admittedly waitrose has made its exotic fruit selection smaller, which is a shame
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P Hart | 04 Dec 2012 18:46
We had one delivered with the school fruit today.... no one had ever seen one and we had to google it to find out what it was... I will get the verdict tomorrow of how it tasted...
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tropicalrareseeds.com | 06 Dec 2012 18:13
You can actually save the large seeds of this fruit and plant them in a pot of free draining compost. It is frost tender but you can try growing it in a sheltered position in a porch or on a windowsill where it will make an interesting plant. I doubt it will set fruit in the UK but would make an ideal conversation piece. These fruits however are not new, you can get them in most markets where there are ethnic stalls. Make sure however you get them when they are soft and do not eat them when they are hard they will be tasteless.
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Anonymous | 09 Dec 2012 15:09
You could buy these for a short time in sainsburys years ago i'm sure.
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