The black sapote is an exotic, tropical fruit that is native to Central America. It receives a lot of interest on social media for being a healthy version of chocolate pudding. But is that an accurate description of this food? We're about to take a close look at what a black sapote tastes like and whether it's worth your money.

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What do black sapotes taste like?
A black sapote has a very mild, slightly sweet flavor with a nutty, pumpkin-like undertone. Its texture is smooth and a lot like pudding. Unlike many other soft fruits that have a grainy or pulpy consistency, this fruit offers a texture that is homogeneous and similar to custard. It has a barely perceivable sweet fragrance, which some won't be able to detect at all.
Compared to chocolate pudding, black sapote is a completely different beast. It has no discernible chocolate or coffee notes and relies almost entirely on sweetness for its flavor. Some people would argue that the black sapote has no flavor at all. However, it does have a pleasant texture, which has a similar consistency to pudding and even looks quite similar.
Like the hachiya persimmon, an unripe black sapote is astringent and bitter and should not be eaten. You will know when the fruit is ready by gently squeezing it; if the indentation remains, then it's ripe.

The verdict: For those people looking for a healthier version of chocolate pudding, we think you will be very disappointed. While the texture is quite pleasant, this fruit has almost no flavor and lacks the creaminess you would get from any pudding.
Compared to many fruits, black sapote doesn't taste bad and it doesn't have any of those unpleasant bitter notes that you get from some tropical fruit. It’s a mediocre fruit that won’t offend the palate of most, but probably won’t impress either.
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How to Eat a Black Sapote
To eat a black sapote, we suggest using a sharp knife and a spoon. Firstly, slice the fruit in half-lengthwise on a chopping board. It isn't hard to slice through because the skin is quite thin.
The fruit is ripe when the flesh is a dark brown or black color. There are often around 12 seeds but some don't have any. To eat the flesh, simply use a spoon to scoop it out. The smooth pulp is easy to remove, and some people prefer to go "spoonless" and eat it out of hand. This can get a little messy!
A black sapote is fairly bland on its own, so you may want to add some passionfruit or a squeeze of lime. Otherwise, try mixing the fruit with a tablespoon of cacao powder and cream to dial up the chocolate notes and creaminess. Of course, you're starting to lose the nutritional benefits by doing this.
Black sapote can also be tossed into a smoothie. It is delicious when combined with pineapple, juice, yogurt, and banana.
Vegans or those on a plant-based diet may prefer using this fruit to make ice cream rather than using avocado. Who can say no to black ice cream blended with other ingredients like dates and caramel?

Nutritional Benefits
- Although the black sapote has a texture similar to chocolate pudding, it is a much healthier option. The fruit only contains 45 calories in a 3 ½-ounce serving. Compare that to the 530 calories you get from the same amount of chocolate.
- Black sapotes are rich in vitamins C, B3, and A. They also contain useful levels of fiber and potassium.
- The black sapote may help heal wounds, improve the immune system, and promote healthy teeth and gums.
7 Fast Facts About the Black Sapote
- Alternative names include chocolate pudding fruit, and zapote prieto.
- The word sapote is Spanish for “soft fruit”.
- A fully ripened fruit is comparable in sweetness to a ripe banana.
- The fruit is most popular in Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. It is common throughout Central America.
- It grows to about four inches in diameter and has green skin with a pudding-like pulp inside.
- Its botanical name is Diospyros nigra and, along with the persimmon, is part of the Ebenaceae family.
- Black sapotes should not be refrigerated until they turn soft. When fully ripened, the fruit can be mashed and frozen in sealable zip-lock bags or airtight containers until needed.
Summing Up
Thanks to all the hype surrounding black sapote and its ability to replace chocolate pudding, it's likely you'll feel let down when you finally try the fruit. The texture is pleasant, but it doesn't have much to offer in terms of flavor. There are much better tropical fruits on offer that provide more bang for your buck. Star fruit, mangoes, hala fruit, or even bananas were all preferred by our team.
Are you looking to grow a black sapote tree, or have you seen the fruit for sale and are interested in buying some? Please let us know in the comments below.
MK
This is about the most accurate description of black sapote that I’ve come across … I know cos I’ve just had a taste of this very smooth but very bland fruit this week!