Description
The Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada - Málaga PDO is a subtropical and exotic cherimoya fruit belonging to the species Annona Cherimola Mill., from the Impressa variety, obtained from the Fino de Jete local variety.
Production Area
The production, processing and packaging area of Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada - Málaga PDO is located in the municipal areas of Motril, Vélez de Benaudalla, Los Guájares, Molvízar, Salobreña, Itrabo, Otívar, Lentejí, Jete and Almuñécar, in the Granada district, and in the municipal areas of Nerja, Frigiliana, Torrox, Algarrobo and Vélez-Malaga, in the Malaga district.
Production Method
Despite the propagation of the Cherimoya plant takes place by seeds, the most spread cropping methods is grafting, above all in particular areas where natural pollination is irregular or insufficient and therefore integrated with a manual one. In the first three or four years of life of the plant only a formation pruning is made, and only when the plant reaches five years of age, the flowering pruning takes place at the end on winter, when the production starts. At the beginning of spring, the field is ploughed up to 15 cm of depth. The irrigation systems used are localised irrigation for flat lands and flood irrigation for hills. The later phases include harvesting, which is rigorously handmade, and packaging which takes place within 24 hours. All the operations can be made only once so to avoid damaging the fruit which, being very delicate, is highly perishable. The fruits have to be stored in authorised rooms in order to avoid the recycling of packaging.
Appearance and Flavour
Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada - Málaga PDO may have an ovoid, heart or kidney shape which is symmetric to the stalk. Its peel is quite thick with smooth or slightly holed scales which, when the fruit it completely ripe, have a light green colour. In the same period, the pulp has a white-ivory white colour with black seeds which, being incorporated in carpel, are not easy to remove The flavour is sweet and well-balanced with the sub-sour taste of the Cherimoya itself.
History
With very ancient origins, the name of this fruit comes from the quechua, a native language of the Peruvian Andes, of which the translation is cold seed (chiri=cold and moya=seed). Evidence of its consumption may be found also in the terracotta vases and the graves of the pre Incas civilization in Peru. The Cherimoya was brought to Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries by emigrants of Andalusia back from the New World. However, the true cropping started in the kitchen gardens of the Mediterranean coastline only at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th. At present it can be found in all the countries with a subtropical climate.
Gastronomy
Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada - Málaga PDO is a non durable fruit which can be stored only for a short time. It is advised to store it in a fresh place, preferably in the least cold compartment of refrigerator. If purchased when unripe, it has to be stored at room temperature until complete ripening. It can be consumed raw, halved and eaten with a tea spoon, eliminating seeds, as they are inedible. It is even more flavourful if, before tasting, it is put a few minutes in refrigerator. It can be seasoned at pleasure, with a little of lemon, vanilla and spirits like cognac or Gran Marnier. There are lots of recipes based on this exotic fruit, fruit salads and the Cherimoya cake and soups, mousses, shakes, drinks and ice creams.
Marketing
The product is sold as Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada - Málaga PDO, Extra and First categories. It is sold in suitable packaging equipped with numbered counter-labels issued by the Control Organisation.
Distinctive Features
Chirimoya de la Costa Tropical de Granada - Málaga PDO stands out due to its high adaptability to the environment also thanks to its peel, which is thicker compared with other varieties making easier its handling and transport. Plus the weather condition of the production area gives the fruit a higher amount of soluble sugars.
