260 Handbook of herbs and spices
14.4 Cultivars and varieties....................................................................
There are two distinct classes of carambola. One is a smaller, very sour type, richly
flavored, with more oxalic acid. The other is a larger, ‘sweet’ type, mild-flavored,
rather bland, with less oxalic acid. Several cultivars were known – like ‘Mih Tao’,
‘Dah Pon’ and ‘Tean Ma’ from Taiwan, Fwang ‘Tung’ from Thailand and ‘Newcomb’,
‘Thayer’ and ‘Arkin’ from Florida. Some cultivars and seedlings bear flowers with
short styles, others only flowers with long styles, a factor which affects self- and
cross-pollination. Several carambola varieties are sold in California. There are a
number of excellent carambola varieties available in Florida, including the following:
Arkin: Arkin is a leading commercial cultivar with uniform 4–5 inches-long fruit.
Bright yellow to yellow-orange skin and flesh. Very sweet, juicy, firm flesh with
few seeds. Keeps and ships well. Tree partially self-fertile.Fwang Tung: fruit 5–8 inches long. Pale yellow skin and flesh. Very sweet and juicy,
firm flesh with few seeds. Beautiful star shape when cut in slices.
Golden Star: large, deeply winged fruit. Skin bright golden yellow, very waxy. Flesh
juicy, crisp, mildly subacid to sweet in flavor, containing no fibers. High in
carbohydrates and vitamins A and C. Tree bears well and regularly without cross
pollination.Hoku: selected by the University of Hawaii. Fruit 5–6 inches long. Bright yellow
skin and flesh. Juicy, firm flesh with a sweet rich flavor, few seeds. Attractive star
shape when cut in slices.Kaiang: fruit 4–5 inches long. Bright yellow skin and flesh. Sweet, juicy, firm flesh
with few seeds. Beautiful star shape when cut in slices.
Maha: Originated in Hawaii. Roundish fruit with light yellowish-white skin. Sweet,
crunchy, white flesh with low acid content.
Sri Kembanqan (Kembangan): originated in Thailand. Elongated pointed fruit, 5–6
inches long. Bright yellow-orange skin and flesh. Juicy, firm flesh with few seeds.
Flavor rich and sweet; excellent dessert quality.Wheeler: medium to large, elongated fruit. Orange skin and flesh. Mildly sweet
flavor. Tree a heavy bearer.
14.5 Climate............................................................................................
Carambola prefers a warm moist climate and can be grown on the hills up to
1,200 m. A well-distributed rainfall encourages normal growth and cropping. It can
grow on any type of soil with good drainage, but deep rich soil supports better plant
growth. Although it grows both in acid and alkaline soils, it prefers acidic soils.
Carambola should be considered as tropical to sub-tropical because mature trees can
tolerate temperatures as low as 27 ∞F for short periods of time with little damage.
Like many other subtropicals, however, young plants are more susceptible to frost
and can be killed at 32 ∞F. The carambola needs moisture for best performance and
ideally rainfall should be fairly evenly distributed all year. Carambolas can be severely
damaged by flooding or prevailing hot, dry winds. In Australia, it is claimed that fruit
quality and flavor are best where annual rainfall is 70 in (180 cm) or somewhat more.
The small trees make good container plants. Carambola is grown more as an ornamental
than for its fruits.