CARAMBOLA TASTING
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Averrhoa carambola
FAMILY: Oxalidaceae
At the last meeting five varieties of carambola were compared in a tasting. Twenty-five people gave their ratings on:
| Sweetness | 1 = Sour | Flavour | 1 = Very poor |
| 2 = Tangy | 2 = Poor | ||
| 3 = Fair | 3 = Fair | ||
| 4 = Sweet | 4 = Fruity | ||
| 5 = Very sweet | 5 = Very fruity | ||
| Juiciness | 1 = Dry | Appearance | 1 = Unacceptable |
| 2 = Fairly dry | 2 = Poor | ||
| 3 = Fair | 3 = Fair | ||
| 4 = Juicy | 4 = Attractive | ||
| 5 = Very juicy | 5 = Highly attractive |
The samples of fruit were good representatives of the varieties. The figures are the average of points given at the tasting.
| VARIETY | SWEETNESS | JUICINESS | FLAVOUR | APPEARANCE |
| B10 | 3.54 | 3.64 | 3.42 | 3.96 |
| Giant Siam | 3.45 | 3.56 | 3.90 | 3.40 |
| Fwang Tung | 2.78 | 3.76 | 2.22 | 2.88 |
| Arkin | 2.32 | 3.42 | 2.52 | 3.95 |
| B16 | 3.39 | 3.55 | 3.39 | 3.87 |
A further tasting of selected fruits by 5 persons gave the following:
| VARIETY | FLAVOUR | SWEETNESS | BRIX | JUICINESS | APPEARANCE | SIZE cm | COLOUR | SHAPE |
| B10 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 9.8 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 11.5x7 | Orange + Green ridge | Wings - Thick Short and Blunt |
| Giant Siam | 3.6 | 3.4 | 10.8 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 14x7 | Yellow | Wings - Medium Thick End - Rounded |
| Fuang Tung | 3.2 | 3.0 | 8.8 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 14xl0 | Green - White Green Ridge | Wings - Large Thin wavy End - Pointed |
| Arkin | 3.4 | 3.0 | 10.3 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 12x6.5 | Deep Orange | Wings - Medium Thick End - Slightly Pointed |
| B16 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 8.4 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 14x8 | Yellow - Light Green Ridge | Wings - Moderately Thin |
| A Seedling | 2.0 | 1.8 | 7.4 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 7x6 | Lemon Green | Wings - Short End - Pointed |
COMMENTS
ARKIN was the most mature fruit sample almost to the point of being overripe.
FUANG TUNG, B16 and the seedling were the least mature, but still mature enough for harvest.
ARKIN had a dimpled skin that harboured sooty mould.
B10 had a very smooth skin, wax-like in appearance.
The seedling had a skin that was also smooth.
GIANT SIAM and B10 had the thinnest skin with Giant Siam showing handling marks.
FUANG TUNG was popular due to its large size and attractive wavy wings.
Thanks to the Fitzroy Nursery for supplying most of the fruit.
DATE: July 1987
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
