Many confuse between ice apple vs. apple, assuming they are similar fruits from the same family.
Let us help you with the similarities and differences between the two fruits.
Ice Apple vs. Apples: Similarities
Ice apples (Borassus flabellifer) and apples (Malus pumila) are nutritious fruits popular worldwide.
Although one grows in cool, temperate regions and another in warm, tropical climates, they share a few tell-tale similarities.
The natural sugar with low calories and water inside the fruits provide much-needed hydration.
Similarly, you can eat them raw, cooked, or add in bakery or desserts!
Ice Apple vs. Apples: Differences
Ice apples are called so because of their appearance and sweet flavor, not because they are apples.
Therefore, these are unrelated to each other, except for their name.
1. Botanical difference
Ice apple is a tropical plant fruit that grows on a tropical palm called palmyra palm, whereas the regular apple is a temperature fruit from Malus domestica.
Apples grow in temperate regions in Asia, Europe, and North America, whereas ice apple is mainly found in South and Southeast Asia.
2. Appearance and taste
Ice apple is spherical with brown or green, hardcover, but apple can be spherical or round with soft outer tissue.
They share the same sweet taste; apples can be sweet and tart or a combination of both.
3. Fruit Texture
The inside of an ice apple feels like jelly with soft flesh, mainly like eating lychee. You would find a translucent fruit.
On the other hand, apple insides feel crispy and juicy, where even the outer shell can be eaten along with the fruits inside.
4. Nutrient Contents
Ice apple is rich in natural sugar, vitamins, and minerals with low caloric value, whereas apple contains rich dietary fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.
When comparing both fruits, ice apple promises more vitamin, potassium, and calcium content, whereas regular apple has more carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and sugars.
5. Fruit Seeds
One major difference between the two fruits is seeding. Ice apple does not produce any seeds.
On the other hand, a regular apple produces seed, which can be planted to grow a new tree.
From Editorial Team
Conclusion!
Eating each fruit remains the same. You can eat ice apples and regular apples raw, cooked, juiced, or added to salads or desserts.
Similarly, you can ferment their juices to prepare an alcohol, such as apple wine or ale.
Indians in 1600 started fermenting ice apples to prepare an alcohol called “Toddy,” making it not very different from regular apples.
