White Sapote (Seedling) Fruit Plant

The white sapote, also called casimiroa, Mexican apple, and cochitzapotl in the Nahuatl language (meaning “sleep sapote”), is a tropical fruiting tree in the family Rutaceae. It is native to eastern Mexico and Central America, extending south to Costa Rica. The genus is named after Casimiro Gómez, an Otomi Indian from Hidalgo, Mexico, who fought and died in Mexico’s war of independence.

Despite its name, white sapote is not related to true sapotes but is a distant citrus relative. It is valued as a dooryard fruit tree in warm regions such as Florida and can grow as far north as Orlando. The fruit is known for its custard-like pulp, which ranges in flavor from mild to banana-like, peach, pear, or vanilla. Mature trees can produce high yields. The Aztecs called it cochiztzapotl (“sleep-producing sapote”) due to its traditional association with inducing sleepiness.

Tree and Fruit Characteristics

White sapote trees are evergreen and typically grow between 5–16 meters (16–52 ft) tall. The leaves are alternate and palmately compound with three to five leaflets. Each leaflet is 6–13 cm long and 2.5–5 cm wide, with entire margins. The petiole measures 10–15 cm in length.

The fruit is an ovoid drupe, 5–10 cm in diameter, with a thin inedible skin that turns from green to yellow when ripe. The edible pulp varies in color from creamy white to beige-yellow depending on the variety. The texture is smooth and creamy, similar to ripe avocado. It contains one to five seeds, which are reported to have mild narcotic properties. A slight color change is usually the best indicator of ripeness. Fruits should be clipped from the branch, as pulling may cause spoilage near the stem. The fruit is ready to eat when slightly soft to the touch.

White Sapote Benefits and Uses

White sapote is best consumed raw, as cooking reduces its flavor and texture quality.
It can be eaten fresh or combined with other fruits in salads for added variety.
It can also be blended (peeled and deseeded) with orange juice or milk and vanilla to create a refreshing drink.

The fruit is highly nutritious and is considered comparable to bananas in terms of carbohydrates, protein, and vitamin content.
The bark, seeds, and leaves contain a compound called casimirosine, which is believed to have sedative and hypnotic effects. Traditionally, it has been used to promote sleep. A leaf decoction is also used in some regions for diabetes management, while in parts of China it is used to help lower blood pressure.