Sacred Animals and Exotic Tropical Plants monzón sofía photo: by Dr. Nicholas M. Hellmuth and Daniela Da’Costa Franco, FLAAR Reports ZAPOTE The popular name represents many diverse edible fruits of Guatemala ne of the tree fruits raised by the Most zapotes have a soft fruit inside and Maya long ago that is still enjoyed a “zapote brown” covering outside (except today is the zapote. Although for a few that have other external colors). It Othere are several fruits of the same name, the is typical for Spanish nomenclature of fruits popular nomenclature is pure chaos. Some of and flowers to be totally confusing. Zapote is the “zapote” fruits belong to the sapotaceae a vestige of the Nahuatl (Aztec) word tzapotl. family and all are native to Mesoamerica. The first plant on our list, Manilkara But other botanically unrelated fruits are also zapote, is commonly named chicozapote. called zapote/sapote; some are barely edible This is one of the most appreciated edible (such as the zapotón). There are probably species because of its commercial value. It even other zapote-named fruits that are not is distributed from the southeast of Mexico, all native to Mesoamerica. especially the Yucatán Peninsula into Belize 60 Dining ❬ ANTIGUA and the Petén area, where it is occasionally now collecting pertinent information related an abundant tree in the forest. The principal to the eating habits of Maya people, and all products of these trees are the fruit; the the plants they used and how they used them latex, which is used as the basis of natural for food. We do not intend to commercialize chewing gum; and the wood, which is these plants ourselves. FLAAR Mesoamerica, used for construction. Another important just like other NGOs and government attribute is its medicinal properties, said to programs, is aware of the nutritional alleviate dysentery and diarrhea. problem Guatemala faces and our intention You can see several types of zapote fruit is to help by teaching people which plants to trees at Frutas del Mundo, a remarkable reintroduce into their house-side gardens and orchard of diversity organized by Dwight which fruits to provide to their children. Carter. You can visit Frutas del Mundo in nearby villages by contacting Kevin Lock, a To familiarize yourself with images of the popular guide in the Río Dulce area. different zapote fruits, you can also peruse the full-color photographic essays on various One of FLAAR’s principal interests is tropical Maya fruits and vegetables and nuts nutrition in Guatemala. This is why we are on our www.maya-ethnobotany.org. 61 ANTIGUA ❭ Dining Zapote cont. from previous page The four species that belong to the Sapo- taceae family and are named zapote are: 1. Chico zapote, Manilkara zapota 2. Yellow zapote, canistel, Pouteria campechiana 3. Mamey sapote, Pouteria sapota 4. Green sapote, Pouteria viridis Other “zapote” fruits include: Fresh Bread & Rolls Daily • White sapote, Casimiroa edulis, of the Whole Wheat, Raisin, Rye, Rutaceae family. • Red zapote, Mammea Americana, All-Grain, Potato & Onion zapote mamey —Banana Bread & Cookies • Monkey apple, Licania platypus, sansapote, sonzapote, Home-cooked Meals Great Breakfasts A website on tourism of Costa Rica gives Sandwiches & Burgers the most unexpected zapote name: • Chichihualtzapotl, the Nahuatl (Aztec) Soups & Salads name for “zapote nodriza” or “mothering Stuffed Potatoes zapote,” which is papaya! Delicious Pies & Cakes Dr. Nicholas M. Hellmuth is director of FLAAR Daily 7:00am to 9:30pm Reports (Foundation for Latin American An- 4a calle oriente No.12 thropological Research). The full list of all Ma- Tel:7832-2578 yan ethnobotanicals is available at www.maya- La Antigua Guatemala ethnobotany.org. If you find any of the plants [email protected] we have not yet located, please contact us at [email protected] 62 .