Origin

Lucuma or Lucumo is a subtropical fruit of peruvian andean origin, adapted to to the subtropical-dry valleys of Peru. The fruit has been depicted on ceramics at burial sites of the indigenous people of coastal Peru. Lucius Tarquinius Priscus was the legendary fifth King of Rome, said to have reigned from 616 BC to 579 BC. Tarquinius Priscus came from the Etruscan city of Tarquinii and was actually named Lucumo. ... Subtropical (or semitropical) areas are those adjacent to the tropics, usually roughly defined as the ranges 23. ... Jump to: navigation, search Fruit stall in Barcelona, Catalonia. ...

Location

The fruit is native to the center of the andean valleys of Peru. It that grows at temperate elevations–between 9,000 and 10,000 ft (2,700-3,000) especifically in the central Andes of Perú where u have the largest and sweetest examples.

The largest concentration of this fruit is found in the regions of Cajamarca, Ancash, Lima and Ayacucho (many say the more exact location of the fruit´s origin is this last region). Aerial view of Cajamarca, with Santa Appollonia hill in foreground Cajamarca is located in the northern highlands of Peru, and is the capital of the Cajamarca region. ... Categories: Peru ... Jump to: navigation, search Also called: La Ciudad de los Reyes (The City of Kings) Founded January 18, 1535 Subdivisions 43 districts Mayor Luis Castañeda Lossio Area 2,664. ... Ayacucho is the capital of the department of Ayacucho in Peru. ...

The fruit can also be see today growing the andes of southern Ecuador and northern Bolivia. It has also adatped to the Chilean coast, althouh the result the growth of smaller pulp and disminiushed sweetness.

Description

The lucuma (CLEAR POUTERIA - RACK) belongs to the family of the Sapotáceas. It is always a foliage tree green, very vigorous, of great longevity and with latex in all their parts. Their fruit has a floury and solid pulp, of soft color and of very pleasant dryish texture and flavor.

Its tree ranges from 25 to 50 ft (8-15 m) in height, has a dense, rounded crown, velvety hairs on its young branchlets, and copious milky latex. The evergreen leaves, clustered at the tips of small branches, are obovate, oval or elliptic, blunt at the apex, pointed at the base, 5 to 10 in (12.5-25 cm) long; thin or slightly leathery; dark-green on the upper surface, pale and sometimes brown-hairy on the underside. The profuse flowers, borne singly or 2 or 3 together in the leaf axils, are tubular, yellowish-green, with hairy sepals and 5- to 7-lobed mouth about 1/2 in (1.25 cm) across. The fruit is oblate, ovate or elliptic, pointed or depressed at the apex; 3 to 4 in (7.5-10 cm) long, with thin, delicate skin, brownish-green more or less overlaid with russet, and bright-yellow, firm, dry, mealy, very sweet pulp, permeated with latex until almost overripe. There may be 1 to 5, usually 2, rounded or broad-oval, dark-brown, glossy seeds with a whitish hilum on one flattish side.

The tree blooms and fruits all year. Mature fruits fall to the ground but they are not edible until they have been kept on hand for several days. Peruvian Indians bury them in stored grain, cured hay, chaff, dry leaves or other materials until they become soft

Links

http://www.essentiallivingfoods.com/products-exotic-fruit-lucuma.html