Sapodilla (Manilkara Zapota)

Sapodilla (Scientific - Manilkara Zapota | Sin - සැපදිල්ලා)  tree is medium-sized and slow-growing. The reddish wood is hard and durable. The leaves are glossy and light green in colour and ovate to elliptic in outline; the flowers are small and inconspicuous. The fruit is spheroid to ovoid in shape, rusty brown on the surface. Its sweet flavour has been compared to a combination of pears and brown sugar. When the fruit is ripe, the seeds —two to five in number, shiny black, and the size of flattened beans—are surrounded by translucent, yellowish brown, juicy flesh. When the fruit is immature, its flesh contains both tannin and milky latex and is unpalatable. Propagation is usually by means of seed, but superior trees can be reproduced by grafting.

Being rich in nutrients, sapodilla is a storehouse of Vitamin E, A and C, all of which are great for skin health and has amazing moisturising properties. The presence of antioxidants like ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and flavonoids help in reducing wrinkles and makes your skin plumper. Also, the seed oil has been found to help in moisturising scalp and softening hair. The sapodilla seed oil also helps in treating hair fall due to seborrheic dermatitis.has additional amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and iron which are key sources required by bones to increase their endurance. Being rich in calcium, iron and phosphorus, sapota greatly helps in enhancing and strengthening the bones.

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