Wild Sweetsop

It is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree reaching 8–10 metres (26–33 ft) tall with an open, irregular crown. The slender leaves are hairless, straight and pointed at the apex (in some varieties wrinkled), 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 2–7 cm (1–3 in) wide. The yellow-green flowers are generally in clusters of three or four 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) diameter, with three long outer petals and three very small inner ones. Its pollen is shed as permanent tetrads. The fruits vary in shape, heart-shaped, spherical, oblong or irregular. The size ranges from 7–12 cm (3–4+1⁄2 in), depending on the cultivar. When ripe, the exterior of the fruit is brown or yellowish, with red highlights and a varying degree of reticulation, depending again on the variety. The flesh, which is white and pink with numerous black seeds, varies from juicy and very aromatic to hard with a repulsive taste. The flavor is sweet and pleasant, akin to the taste of 'traditional' custard.

Annona reticulata is native to the West Indies (Caribbean and Central America). Annona reticulata is now pantropical. It grows from sea level to elevations of 1,500 metres (5,000 ft) in areas of Central America that have alternating wet and dry seasons. It is cultivated and naturalized in many tropical places including Southeast Asia, Taiwan, South Asia, Australia, and Africa. In India, the species has migrated from initial cultivation into the wild.

Custard apple can be eaten raw, out of hand as a fresh fruit. It is not as popular as the sugar apple or the cherimoya. It can also be prepared as juices, ice-cream or puddings. In India, it is cooked into a sauce.

The fragrant aroma of A. reticulata results from some 180 compounds, including the volatile compounds, alpha-pinene, myrcene, and limonene, among others. The plant is rich in tannins.

Seeds can be propagated. Other techniques for cultivation are grafting and budding. The tree produces 45 kg of fruits per year. In Asia, the season lasts from July to September, and in the Caribbean, it runs from February to April. Annona reticulata can take 2-3 years from planting time to harvest.