Carambola

What Is Carambola?

Carambola is a fruit that is also called star fruit. It grows on a tree that comes from tropical Southeast Asia. The name "starfruit" can also mean a marsh plant, Damasonium. This article is about the fruit. For other uses of the name, see Carambola (disambiguation).

When you cut a carambola across, it looks like a star. That is how it got its name. It has five or six ridges running down its sides.

Eating Carambola

The whole fruit can be eaten, and people usually eat it raw. It can also be cooked or made into relishes, jams, garnish, and juice. A ripe carambola tastes a little like apple, pear, grapes, and citrus fruits.

People often eat carambola in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the South Pacific, Micronesia, parts of East Asia, the United States, parts of Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Where It Grows

Long ago, traders brought carambola to the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Today, people grow it in many warm places. It grows in Taiwan, southern China, and the US state of Hawaii. It also grows in parts of Africa.

The carambola tree likes warm, damp air and plenty of sun. It can grow up to 9 m (30 ft) tall. Some people grow it just to decorate their gardens.

Fun Facts

Carambola is a fruit you can even find in video games. In the farming game Stardew Valley, players can grow it and call it "starfruit."

Some people should not eat too much carambola, especially people with kidney disease. If you have questions, ask a grown-up or a doctor first.