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Agbalumo (Star Apple) Juice

Agbalumo Juice celebrates the most beloved seasonal Nigerian fruit — the African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) — in its drink form. The Agbalumo, available from December to March in Nigerian markets, has one of the most distinctive and unforgettable flavours of any fruit in the world: simultaneously tart, tangy, slightly sweet, resinous and utterly unique.

Agbalumo (Star Apple) Juice, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • A big quantity of ripe Agbalumo (African Star Apple / Udara) — seeds and skin removed
  • 2 glasses of cold water
  • Sugar or honey to taste — Agbalumo is very tart and requires sweetening
  • A squeeze of lemon juice
  • Ice cubes

Method

  1. 01

    Preparing the Agbalumo. Wash each fruit. Peel away the skin and discard. Remove the large brown seeds — the sticky, resinous pulp clinging to the seeds is the most flavourful part. Scrape all of this pulp off the seeds carefully and add to the bowl. Discard the seeds only.

  2. 02

    Blending. Place all Agbalumo flesh and pulp in a blender with 2 glasses of cold water. Blend at high speed for 1 to 2 minutes until as smooth as possible.

  3. 03

    Straining. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing firmly. The Agbalumo contains fibrous material that should be removed for a smooth juice.

  4. 04

    Sweetening. The strained Agbalumo juice will be very tart and tangy. Add sugar or honey generously to achieve a pleasant sweet-tart balance. Add lemon juice. Stir well.

  5. 05

    Serving. Pour over ice. The finished juice should have a beautiful slightly pinkish-amber colour and the unmistakable Agbalumo aroma.

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