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Santol

The Philippine santol, Sandoricum koetjape, is a medium-sized fruit tree that grows in tropical climates. The Santol - the national fruit of the Philippines was included in its list of the country's famous fruits, along with other popular ones like mangoes and pomelos. The santol is a fast-growing, straight-trunked, pale-barked tree 50 to 150 ft (15-45 m) tall, branched close to the ground, and buttressed when old. Young branchlets are densely brown-hairy. The leaves are simple, alternate, or clustered at the ends of branches; large, sometimes 15 in (38 cm) long, but more often 3.2-9.8 in (8-25 cm); ovate to oblong, coarsely serrate; pointed at the tip and rounded or cordate at base. The leaf stalk is 1/2-3 in (1.5-7.5 cm) long. The leaf is thick, stiff, and leathery to touch, pale green on the top (dorsal) surface and paler on the bottom (ventral) surface; veins are not prominent; 5 to 7 lateral veins emerge from the petiole at each side. Flowers are small, about 0.4 in (1 cm) wide, clustered in panicles that can extend to 6-15 in (15-38 cm). Petals are white; stamens number 12-20. Fruit is oblong or ovoid; 1/2-3/4 in (1.5-2 cm) long and almost as wide, with a rough surface and a fleshy, crisp texture when ripe. Color is light yellow to greenish-yellow at the start but changes to orange or deep yellow when mature. The fruit has a sour taste with very little sugar, hence it is usually used as an ingredient in preparing dishes such as jams. Seeds are numerous and mottled or brownish, with a flattened oblong shape. The fruit is eaten raw or cooked. It is usually combined with other fruits to make various delicacies and preserves. A few leaves are pounded together with coconut milk, sugar, and cornstarch, then boiled until it thickens into a dark green-colored sweet soup called "santolado". The soup can also be made into other flavors. Santol seeds are used as a spice after being roasted, fried, or boiled. They are usually combined with other spices then used in preparing beef dishes and even desserts like halo-halo, cake, or ice cream. The fruit is purported to have medicinal properties, including as a cure for diarrhea. The seed's oil is used in soap manufacturing and as a substitute for machine lubricants. The tree has ornamental value, especially when it turns a golden yellow color during fall. However, because the fruit has a short shelf life after harvest, people prefer to consume ripe fruits rather than store them long-term. The santol was mentioned in Philippine folk songs, which are attributed to Manggagaway, a native Negrito tribe that once lived in the rainforests of the Philippines. These were passed down orally over generations and have been preserved until present times.