Blimbing facts for kids

Blimbling is another name for a fascinating fruit tree called the bilimbi (scientific name: Averrhoa bilimbi). This tree is famous for its sour, juicy fruits that grow in clusters right on its trunk and branches!

Bilimbi trees are native to tropical places like Southeast Asia, especially countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They also grow in other warm regions around the world, including parts of India, Sri Lanka, and even Central America.

What is Bilimbi?

The bilimbi tree is a small to medium-sized tree that can grow up to 15 meters (about 49 feet) tall. It has a short trunk and a lot of branches. The leaves are long and narrow, and they grow in groups.

The Fruit

The fruit itself is usually about 4 to 10 centimeters (1.6 to 3.9 inches) long. It's shaped like a small cucumber or a starfruit, but it's more cylindrical. When it's young, it's bright green, and as it ripens, it turns yellowish-green.

Taste and Uses

Bilimbi fruits are known for being very sour, much more sour than a lemon! Because of their strong sour taste, they are usually not eaten raw on their own. Instead, people often use them in cooking to add a tangy flavor to dishes.

• Cooking: In many Asian cuisines, bilimbi is used in curries, stews, and soups. It's also great for making pickles, chutneys, and jams.
• Drinks: Sometimes, people make refreshing drinks from bilimbi by mixing its juice with sugar and water.
• Traditional Uses: Beyond food, bilimbi has also been used in traditional medicine for various purposes, and even for cleaning! Its high acidity makes it useful for removing stains.

The Flowers

The flowers of the bilimbi tree are quite pretty. They are small, reddish-purple, and grow in clusters directly from the trunk and older branches. This way of growing flowers and fruits directly on the woody parts of the tree is called "cauliflory," and it's a cool feature of some tropical trees.

Growing Bilimbi

Bilimbi trees love warm, humid climates and grow best in well-drained soil. They are quite hardy and can produce a lot of fruit. If you live in a tropical or subtropical area, you might even see them growing in gardens or small farms.

Images for kids

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  The bilimbi fruit, often called blimbling, is known for its sour taste.

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  Close-up of the small, reddish-purple bilimbi flowers.

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  Another view of the bilimbi flowers growing in clusters.

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  A bilimbi tree full of fruits growing directly on its trunk and branches.

See also

In Spanish: Averrhoa bilimbi para niños