Carambola Facts for Kids

Look at the carambola from the side and cut in half!

The carambola, also known as star fruit, is a cool tropical fruit! It gets its name because when you slice it, each piece looks like a perfect star. These fruits grow on trees that come from places like India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. You can find star fruit growing in many warm, sunny areas, especially in South Asia, Australia, and the islands around it.

Where Does Star Fruit Grow?
What Does Star Fruit Taste Like?
How Is Star Fruit Grown?
Images for kids
See also

Where Does Star Fruit Grow?

Star fruit has been grown in parts of Asia for hundreds of years. It might have first appeared in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas (which are islands in Indonesia). Today, Malaysia grows a lot of carambola, and it's also popular in Bangladesh.

Because of tiny insects and plant diseases, whole star fruits can't always be brought into the USA. But don't worry, star fruit is grown in the USA too, in places like Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii!

Whole star fruit and slices ready to eat!

What Does Star Fruit Taste Like?

Star fruit tastes best when it's ripe. You can tell it's ready to eat when it's mostly yellow with a little green. The five edges of the fruit might also be a bit brown, and it should feel firm. If it's too yellow with brown spots, it might be overripe.

You can eat the whole fruit, even its skin! It's super sweet and very juicy. Many people say it tastes like a mix of papaya, orange, and grapefruit. It's a unique and refreshing flavor!

How Is Star Fruit Grown?

Carambola trees love warm weather because they are tropical plants. In some parts of Northern India, they can grow high up in the mountains. These trees need lots of sunshine and a lot of rain, usually more than 70 inches each year! They also need soil where water can drain away easily.

Farmers plant carambola trees far apart, usually 20 feet or more, to give them space to grow. These trees grow pretty fast and start making fruit when they are about four or five years old. Sometimes, heavy rain in the spring can mean fewer fruits later. But in perfect conditions, one carambola tree can produce a huge amount of fruit, from 200 to 400 pounds a year! Most of the fruit is picked during June, July, and August.

Some common problems for star fruit trees are tiny fruit flies, ants, and birds. In places like the United States, cold weather or frost can also hurt the trees.