Can Anyone Help Me Identify This Mystery Fruit?

[Bathsheba]

HERE is a photo of a piece of fruit that grows near our front gate. This one is a relatively small one as the season is nearly over and I can't reach the bigger ones. I really like them.... they taste a bit like lemonade. You kind of scoop out the softer bit in the middle which is the sweetest... gets a little more tart as you get to the skin which you can't eat. I've never seen them sold in shops. Has anyone ever seen or eaten one???

ETA: the seeds are small and edible.

[alioops]

My parents had something like that but it was yellow when it was ripe. Could it be a perssimon?

[Junglemum]

It looks like a feijoa to me.

[Kamarine]

Persimmons are normally rounder. Like orange tomatoes.

Reminds me kinda of a custard apple.

[Bathsheba]

Alioops: nah, not a persimon... I'm familiar with them... but thanks for trying!

Falguni: Hmmmm.... now that name rings a bell.... I might have to Google. Thanks!!!

The skin stays green right through it's life cycle... kinda has a greyish patina which rubs off once you handle it.

ETA: Kamarine: not a custard apple... i know about them, they are yum

[AnyDream]

It's not a persimmon, they are orange, smell really strong and have a star-shaped leafy thing near the stalk.

I think it might be a New Zealand fruit, Artechim was telling us a few weeks ago she has planted the trees, can't remember what they are called sorry.

ETA - Thanks Ange, pretty certain FEIJOA!!! is the answer!!

[Marlene]

Maybe a Babaco....

[Marlene]

After googling.....definitely a Feijoa!!!

[sneakysparkle]

ooh definately a feijoa - I havent had one of those since primary school!

[melbel]

definitely a feijoa...I have one in the back yard..they are yummmmmmmmmy!!!!!!

[AliBaby]

i have never evenheard of these fruits you are talking about!

[spooky]

The fruit that is similar but then turns yellow on the vine is a "banana" passionfruit. I've never seen either in a retail store, but have come across both at farmers markets and Feijoa as a jam as well.

[jackrose]

Yummm Feijoa!

We had a tree in the garden when we were young and I loved eating them off the tree. You are very lucky to have one - I saw some for sale in the supermarket yesterday for 2.99 each .

Yes Marydean, they are huge in New Zealand and a lot of NZ manufacturers make products featuring feijoa. Phoenix Juices which sell in heaps of Cafes here make a delicious sparkling Feijoa juice .

[angelaartsstudent]

Yep first thing that popped into my mind was Feijoa too!

[Muppity]

if anyone is up for a laugh they should google Kiwi feijoa - there was one for sale in New Zealand a few weeks ago - and it looked just like a Kiwi - went for I think $1000 at auction.

They are also sometimes called a Pineapple Guava. I have a whole hedge of them but I only planted them this year so didn't get any fruit. They are really really good for you Bath - their antioxidant levels are about the same as blueberries.

Also - the cook and the chef have a recipe for a Feijoa tart - it looks devine.

Now who would have thought that I knew so much about a fruit that most people had never heard of! [Muppity goes off to trawl through her head of useless knowledge to try and remember where she left the house keys]

[blue_hebe]

It's a feijoa We had a wonderful tree of them at the last flat we lived at. I love to eat them as they are, juiced, or as an apple and feijoa crumble or fruit sponge.

They are ripe once they fall on the ground...so no need to pick them from the tree.

For bigger fruit they just require more water...probably not an easy thing to get in Australia at times!

[Nelle]

You lucky duck Bath! I LOVE Feijoas, and they're not easy to find!!

[Lisa]

Wow... I have never heard of them either. They look and sound delicious though... I hope you enjoy them Bath