Ambarella (Sinhalese), Brazil plum, hog plum, Golden apple, June plum
Otaheite-apple/Tahitian quince/vi (Tahiti), Jew plum (Jamaica), pomme cythère/évi (French), Cytherea/Tahiti-Apfel (German), ciruela dulce (Cuba), amara (Hindi), kedongdong (Malay/Indonesian), ma kik farang (Thai), caja-manga (Brazil), jobo de la India (Venezuela)
(Spondias dulcis, formerly S. cytherea — Family Anacardiaceae)
Ambarella is related to the mombin, and native to the Society Islands; but it is now widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, especially southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. It is cultivated, but not on a large scale.
The plum-like fruits are grayish-orange and grow in clusters of two to ten fruits. Each fruit contains a single seed, much like an avocado, and is surrounded by a yellowish pulp which is pleasantly sour.
The taste is a mix of apple and pineapple, but the aroma is sometimes resinous and pungent.
Although the fruit is popular in the West Indies, it actually originated in Polynesia and is occasionally exported only during the winter.
The unripened fruits are often pickled or used in soups, while the ripened fruits are used in sauces, drinks, and preserves.
