The Cherimoya (Annona cherimola is a species of Annona native to the Andean-highland valleys of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. It is decidous or semi-evergreen shrub or small tree reaching 7m tall. The leaves are alternate, simple, oblong-lanceolate, 7-15 cm long and 6-10 cm broad. The flowers are produced in small clusters, each flower 2-3 cm across, with six petals, yellow brown, often spotted purple at the base.
The fruit is oval often slighty oblique, 10-20 long and 7-10 diameter, with a smooth or slightly tuberculated skin. The fruit flesh is white and has numerous seeds embedded in it.
Cherimoya, atemoya and sweetsop have high concentrations of sugars (14-15% when ripe) and moderate acidity (0.4-0.7% when ripe). They are good sources of vitamin C (45-60mg/100g) and potassium (250-500mg/100g edible portion).
