Is Cannonball Fruit Edible? Reeking Fruit With Benefits!

Is the cannonball fruit edible, or does its distinctive appearance conceal a secret taste?

Is Cannonball Fruit Edible To Eat?

Cannonball fruit (Couroupita guianensis) is edible to eat, but it is not in high market demand due to its unpleasant smell.

The odor is somewhat similar to the combination of rotten eggs and raw sewage, and the odor is released when the fruit cracks and opens widely.

Due to its unpleasant scent, people may suffer from several allergic reactions after consumption, such as Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea.

Furthermore, the Cannonball tree produces large, round, and hard fruits resembling Cannonballs and are not consumed as fruits.

This fruit has a hard and woody shell that protects the seeds that are embedded in pulpy and fleshy materials.

However, people often consider this fruit as ornamental and used for decorative purposes rather than edible.

Cannonball Fruit Benefits

Although the Cannonball fruits are edible, people do not eat them because of their irritating smell.

However, Cannonball fruit possesses some benefits that are mentioned below.

• Ornamental value: The Cannonball tree is usually cultivated for its ornamental value in botanical gardens and landscapes. Furthermore, the large and round fruits of the tree add an aesthetic beauty to your garden.
• Cultural and religious significance: The Cannonball tree holds some cultural and religious significance in the places where it is native. Similarly, people plant them near temples or sacred sites and worship them.
• Wildlife attraction: The foul smell of the fruit attracts various pollinators, including bees and beetles. This helps in the pollination of neighboring plants, too, promoting the spread of plants.
• Anti-microbial properties: Cannonball fruits contain some beneficial compounds, like Triterpenoids, Flavonoids, and Alkaloids, which are known to have anti-microbial properties and help to protect against bacteria and fungi.
• Anti-inflammatory properties: Cannonball fruits help to reduce allergic reactions in our body. On top of that, the plant may also be helpful for treating other health problems like arthritis and asthma.
• Analgesic properties: The fruit extracts of the Cannonball tree are known to have analgesic effects and act as a strong pain reliever.
• Anti-oxidant properties: This fruit possesses various antioxidants that help to prevent the free oxygen radicals produced in our bodies.