The Star Fruit comes from the Averrhoa carambola tree that is native to Asia, but is also cultivated in most tropical areas of the world, and can be found in higher end grocery stores and whole food markets.  Star fruit also known as Carambola is a juicy tropical fruit that is grown throughout Southeast Asia.

Star fruit is green when unripe; the fruit vary from pale yellow to deep amber when ripe. It has four to six strongly pointed ridges that run from top to bottom, and the soft flesh is encased in a thin waxy, translucent skin (which is eaten together with the flesh). When the fruit is cut crosswise each slice is shaped like a star, hence its named, “star fruit”. It’s relatively small in size, between 4 and 8 inches long, with a “sweet and sour” flavor.

The flavor is best described as that of a super-sweet tropical plum.  The Star Fruit is in season from July through September, although many grocery stores carry it in limited numbers year around.  The Star Fruit can be eaten whole or sliced; the skin is eaten as well, and is a source of the fruits nutrients. 

The star fruit has five lobes covered in an edible waxy yellow skin. The flavor of the yellow flesh is reminiscent of citrus fruit and varies from quite sour to mildly sweet, depending upon the variety. Some contain small dark seeds in the center. (more…)

Green tea comes from an eastern Asian shrub that has leathery, green leaves with beautiful, fragrant flowers. When the leaves of this shrub are dried and cured, the result is green tea. For more than 4,000 years, people in Asia have enjoyed the flavor and health benefits of green tea, which has now become a number one choice for people in other countries.

Interestingly, both green and black tea comes from the same shrub. The only difference is the way in which the leaves are processed. For instance, for black tea to be cultivated, the leaves are fermented whereas the leaves used for green tea are not.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. (more…)