Vietnamese Star Apple (Vú Sữa): All You Need to Know About This Fruit

We’re excited to share some valuable insights about the Vietnamese star apple.

6 min

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In this article, we’ll take you on a journey into the world of the Vietnamese star apple, also known as vú sữa. We’ll dive into its unique shape and flavor, share tips on how to enjoy it, and guide you in selecting the perfect fruit. Plus, you’ll uncover a fascinating Vietnamese legend about the origins of the star apple, shedding light on the meaning behind its name. Additionally, we’ve included a PDF with four delicious star apple smoothie recipes for you to try at home! Whether you’re a fruit enthusiast or just curious about new tastes, this article has something exciting for you!

What is Vietnamese star apple?

Overview

Vietnamese name: vú sữa

Shape and appearance: round with smooth, glossy skin ranging from green to purple. Inside, it has a milky, juicy pulp with dark seeds.

Flavor profile: sweet, with a jelly-like texture, juicy flesh, and a pleasant fragrance.

How to enjoy it: eat fresh by slicing it open and scooping out the flesh, or blend it into smoothies.

Harvest season: starts around September and extends until April of the following year.

Shape and color

Vietnamese star apples have a round shape, and they measure between 7 to 12 cm in diameter and weigh around 250 to 350 grams. Their skin is smooth and glossy, coming in colors that range from green to purple. When you cut one open, you’ll discover a milky, juicy pulp inside that surrounds dark seeds.

Star apple trees in Vietnam generally grow to a height of 4 to 10 meters. Their dense foliage and shallow roots make them vulnerable to strong winds. From fruit set to harvest, the process takes approximately 180 to 200 days, with the harvest season spanning from September to April of the following year.

A Vietnamese star apple tree

Taste and flavor

Vietnamese star apples are known for their sweetness and unique texture, which is like that of jelly. When you eat them, you’ll notice that the meat is juicy, and they have a pleasant fragrance. Whether it’s the green-skinned or purple-skinned variety, star apples deliver that same delicious flavor.

A quick tip: The green star apple typically has thinner skin and softer flesh, while the purple variety tends to have thicker skin and firmer, denser flesh.

Cultivation

Branch grafting is commonly used in Vietnam to propagate star apple trees (Credit: Canh Dong Bat Tan).

Star apple trees thrive in tropical climates with temperatures between 22-34°C and require distinct wet and dry seasons for optimal flowering. In Vietnam, the cultivation of star apple trees commonly involves two methods: from seeds or by grafting.

Grafting is the preferred method. Farmers select healthy branches from mature trees, remove the bark from a section of the branch (about 2 to 3 centimeters long), and cover the exposed area with a nutrient-rich soil mixture to promote root development. This technique ensures strong new trees that maintain the quality of the original tree.

When cultivating star apple trees from seeds, they will start producing fruit after 5 to 7 years. However, using the branch grafting method speeds up the process, allowing for fruit production in about three years.

Did you know? The star apple tree is self-pollinating, thanks to its hermaphroditic flowers, which contain both male and female reproductive organs.

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How to eat the star apple

If you slice the star apple horizontally, it will look like this

But if you cut it vertically, you’ll get a different view like this.

To enjoy a star apple, you should wash the outer skin thoroughly. Then, use a knife to gently split it in half. Once the fruit is halved, use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds from the center. After removing all the seeds, use the spoon to scoop out the delicious inside flesh of the fruit and enjoy!

Just a heads up: The skin of the star apple contains a white, sticky latex substance that irritates the mouth and makes it inedible. The seeds are also not edible.

How to pick a delicious Vietnamese star apple

Check the skin: Look for star apples with bright, smooth, and shiny skin. Avoid ones with wrinkles, shriveled skin, bruises, or cracks, as these may be old or damaged and lacking in flavor. Also, don’t get the unripe ones because they won’t taste sweet and might be bitter.

Test the Texture: Gently squeeze the fruit in your hand. Choose ones with thin, soft skin. These are usually the juiciest and most flavorful.

How to store Vietnamese star apple

Clean the fruit: Lightly wipe the surface of the star apples with a damp cloth before storing them.

Wrap and refrigerate: Place the star apples in plastic wrap or a sealed bag. Store them in the refrigerator at a temperature between 32-39°F (0-4°C). They should stay fresh for about 7 days.

The legend of the Vietnamese star apple (Vú sữa)

In Vietnamese, “vú sữa” means ‘milk from the breast” and the origin of the name “vú sữa” is explained in the folklore tale “The Legend of the Vú Sữa Fruit” which Vietnamese students learn in elementary school.

The story is about a little boy who, one day, after being scolded by his mother, became upset and decided to leave home. As he wandered, he didn’t think about his mother waiting at home. The mother cried and waited for her son until she got very tired and died in the garden. Then, something magical happened – she turned into a big tree.

After a long time playing around, the boy felt tired. He missed his mother and decided to return home. However, upon arriving, his mother was nowhere to be found. He called for her but received no response. Feeling lost and alone, he hugged the big tree in the garden and cried.

Suddenly, the tree trembled, and from its branches grew beautiful little flowers. As the flowers withered, fruits grew and quickly ripened. One fruit fell to where the boy stood, he picked it up and took a bite. The fruit juice flowed like milk, with the fragrance and sweetness of breastmilk. As he ate the fruit, all his hunger and thirst disappeared, and he felt better.

Looking up at the tree’s branches, the boy couldn’t contain his emotions and began to cry. The tree seemed to embrace him as if comforting him like a mother would her child. The boy felt deep regret, but he couldn’t change what had happened. He stayed at home, tending to the garden.

The delicious fruits from the big tree became popular among the villagers. They scattered the seeds everywhere and named them vú sữa, which means “milk from the breast”.

Where is the star apple tree grown in Vietnam?

In rural areas of Vietnam, families often grow a few star apple trees in their home gardens because they provide shade and produce fruit. When it’s time for harvest, they take the star apple fruits to the market to sell and earn extra income.

According to statistics, the star apple tree is primarily cultivated in the Southern region of Vietnam, including provinces such as Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Can Tho, and Ca Mau. Tien Giang province alone has the largest star apple cultivation area, with over 3,170 hectares, mainly in Chau Thanh district. The most famous star apple variety in this area is called Vu Sua Lo Ren, covering more than 330 hectares.

Star Apple Smoothie Recipes (Free)

The VivaVn Team created this PDF to give you delightful star apple smoothie recipes. You’ll find four recipes featuring star apples, showcasing their versatility and delicious flavor.

Recipes include: