As a houseplant, a dainty monstera causes a sensation when it decides to flower at an advanced age. The resulting fruit is edible, although all other parts of the plant are poisonous. You can find out everything about the appearance, the ingredients and the taste here.
The fruit of the Monstera Deliciosa is poisonous
A long ripening period produces mighty fruit cobs
In the optimal location, a Delicious Monstera blooms when it has reached the age of 10 years or more. In the course of 12 months, the typical flowers of an arum family develop into cobs up to 20 cm long. Under a shell of dark green platelets is a creamy-white, edible flesh. In view of this long maturation period, flowers, unripe and ripe fruits can be found on a plant at the same time.
Tips for a delicious treat
Consuming an unripe Monstera deliciosa fruit will not bring you any pleasure. In this state, the pulp is hard and extremely sour in taste. The high oxalic acid content will make even a strong stomach very difficult. A Delicious Monstera lives up to its name under the following premises:
- The previously dark green skin has turned light green
- The small plates can be easily detached or fall off by themselves
- The flesh is creamy white and soft
- The fruit gives off an aromatic scent reminiscent of peach
You can eat the fruit fresh like a corn cob. The flavor and texture of the pulp are similar to pineapples and bananas, hence the joking name pineapple-banana. With a content of 77.8 percent water, 1.8 percent protein and 0.85 percent minerals per 100 grams, you can enjoy a healthy fruit that doesn't end up on your hips thanks to a mere 74 calories.
tips
A delicious window leaf is often wrongly offered as a philodendron in the trade. Although both houseplants belong to the arum family, they represent two different genera. This can have fatal consequences, as the fruits of a philodendron are poisonous and cause severe nausea after consumption. Therefore, when purchasing the plant, ask specifically for the botanical name Monstera deliciosa.