Starfruit(Carambola)

Information about fruit/vegetable type washes.

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juana_b
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Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

Got 140lbs to try.
I'll let y'all know how it goes when I can make it through the rest of 'em in my freezers.
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Demy
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by Demy »

I've never tasted that fruit, what does it taste like? Similar to bananas?
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NZChris
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

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Nice score. I'd love to try them for wine and brandy, but I live in the wrong country. If I get the opportunity to take a still to the islands, I'll try to bring some back as brandy.

I have sun dried dried them to bring back to NZ, they were a lovely raisin flavoured sticky treat.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

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Demy wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:01 pm I've never tasted that fruit, what does it taste like? Similar to bananas?
"somewhat like a mix between a ripe pear, green grape and orange"
but so juicy they should be eaten over a sink or outside. Also a very low sugar content and has some risks https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4683968/
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juana_b
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

NZChris wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:04 pm If I get the opportunity to take a still to the islands, I'll try to bring some back as brandy.
If you're on the right island during the right season, I'd be more than happy to help out with that.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by NZChris »

When is the best time of year? I might be spending time in Samoa this year.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

Right now in Hawaii, depending on the microclimate of where you are at. some earlier, some later.
It's often said here "if you don't like the weather where you're at, drive for 15 min"
In a 40 min drive, I can go from rainforest to desert.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

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LOL. That's a much bigger island than I'm used to. Where I've spent most of my time in the tropics, I can ride a pushbike around the islands in less than two hours :D
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

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The island I'm on most of the time is 48 miles long and 26 miles wide(googling....) or 77.2 km by 41.8 km.
edit: on a pushbike you'll still be going faster than some of the drivers here.
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NZChris
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

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Do cyclists and motorcyclists have to wear helmets? I hate wearing them, but that's beside the point.

If we were in Hawaii in December, would there still be ripe starfruit available?
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

No helmet law here.
December is late, but I wouldn't be surprised if the right little area still had some fruiting then.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

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juana_b wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:16 pm No helmet law here.
Hawaii sounds like a very nice place.

Can i borrow your bike? :D
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

NZChris wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:35 pm
juana_b wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 11:16 pm No helmet law here.
Hawaii sounds like a very nice place.

Can i borrow your bike? :D
There are indeed some things that are very nice here, and some things that are infuriating, kinda the same as everywhere I suppose.
I honestly haven't even looked at my mountain bike for several years, and I live on the rainforest side, so I'm not so sure it has any of its mechanical properties left. It could be one solid flaking piece by now. If by chance it's in working order, you certainly can borrow it. I'll have to look at it one these days.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by gurkan »

juana_b wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:17 pm
Demy wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:01 pm I've never tasted that fruit, what does it taste like? Similar to bananas?
"somewhat like a mix between a ripe pear, green grape and orange"
but so juicy they should be eaten over a sink or outside. Also a very low sugar content and has some risks https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4683968/
So curious how it tastes. You just made me imagine eating this fruit over the sink with satisfaction and making the sloppy, messy, and juicy sound that I cannot express by writing :)
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Demy
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by Demy »

juana_b wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:17 pm
Demy wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 10:01 pm I've never tasted that fruit, what does it taste like? Similar to bananas?
"somewhat like a mix between a ripe pear, green grape and orange"
but so juicy they should be eaten over a sink or outside. Also a very low sugar content and has some risks https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4683968/
Thanks, I was curious ... I distilled various fruits but I do not know this
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by Yonder »

Had a beautiful tree in S. Florida, til the goddamned hurricanes turned it and my lime into green pretzels. Absolutely delightful fruit, sweet and flavorful, full of juice.
Double, Double, toil and trouble. Fire Burn and pot still bubble.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

Stripping run I'm in the middle of smells crazy musty but all of the olfactory qualities of the fruit and ferment remain, just concentrated.
Edit: musky not musty
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by NZChris »

I don't take much notice of stripping runs any more. Be careful not to leave good flavors in the backset when you stop the strips. 30% total Low Wines ABV will not be too soon to stop stripping.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

I took strippings way lower than usual due to the ferments averaging an SG of 1.030. Not a whole lot of sugars in these. Next year I won't pass over the ones already on the ground.
Waiting to get some time for a spirit run now.
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by juana_b »

Got the spirit run done a couple weeks ago and am pleased to announce that the results exceeded my expectations.

ALL of the flavors from the fruit are still there, albeit concentrated and musky.

After juicing 'em in the masturbating juicer, I'm glad i decided to reintroduce most of the pomace into the ferments due to the bounty of aroma from the skins compared to the juice. I will continue this going forward.
Fresh off the spout it had an uncanny resemblance to a grappa, but 110% tropical. It has since died down a bit but still wonderfully present. Can't decide on what to call it yet.. . .......grappacal....tropigrappa...tropigrapppacal.

I am, however, still concerned about folks that have experienced acute kidney issues resulting from daily consumption of the fresh fruit. That being said, I'm rationing everyone who partakes. I don't know what compounds are responsible for this, nor do I have access to a mass spectrometer.

@NZChris, I've been keeping my eyes open and there are a few trees near me that are still producing fruit and I have access to at least one. I'll be gathering more soon.

Happier than a two-peckered billy-goat with this trial.
I need some more seasons with this stuff.
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NZChris
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Re: Starfruit(Carambola)

Post by NZChris »

An excellent result, Juana.

Congratulations.
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