Thai name: Noi-na
Season: June to September
Also known as sugar apple, this fruit has a lumpy green skin covering masses of sweet, scented white flesh: in most varieties the fruit can easily be divided into two pieces by hand and the creamy flesh eaten with a spoon. Custard apples also form the base for a delicious ice cream, served in Thai restaurants. The main growing areas are the north-central provinces such as Phetchabun and Nakhon Ratchasima, and the peak fruiting season lasts from June to September.
Phuket island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders.