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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.” The fruit, which is mostly consumed fresh or as juice, is rich in vitamins A and C and it also has iron, and has high fiber content. The taste varies from sour to sweet, one way of distinguishing the sour variety from the sweeter ones is that the former has narrower ribs, while the latter have thicker, fleshy ones. Unripe star fruit is preserved in many parts of Southeast Asia and is used as a traditional remedy.
