Annona of Reggio Calabria: the exotic Calabrian fruit

Have you ever tasted annona? A tropical fruit that in Italy only grows in the Calabrian latitudes, around the city of Reggio Calabria, kissed by the sun and the mild climate of the Strait of Messina.

The Reggio Calabria annona is the exotic Calabrian fruit par excellence: sweet, fragrant and legendary, also known as the ‘’canella apple‘’, it evokes Mediterranean atmospheres and plantations overlooking the sea.

Let's head south, to taste the Calabrian annona and discover together the secrets of an original fruit. 

We are in Reggio Calabria, a city of intense Mediterranean scents already known for its bergamot, from which the prized Bergamot of Reggio Calabria - Essential Oil PDO is made, but also for another native fruit, which ripens only at these latitudes: the annona of Reggio Calabria. Part of the Annona cherimola family (also known as cerimolia), the Calabrian annona is a typically tropical fruit that, outside the province of Reggio Calabria and part of the eastern province of Sicily, is mainly found in Spain, in the Sierra Nevada region, along the North African coast, Argentina and in the Andean highlands.

Legend has it that in the Andes, in the valleys between Peru and Ecuador, the ancient Inca people cultivated the annona, calling it ‘’chirimoya‘’, or ‘’cold heart‘’, because of its heart shape and green colour. With the advent of the Spanish conquistadors, the annona, a tropical fruit, spread to the Mediterranean basin. How and when did the annona arrives in Reggio Calabria? Probably around the 19th century, thanks to the work of scholars and admirers who, from the tropics, planted it in the Botanical Garden of Palermo.

Today, the annona is a rare delicacy on the Italian market, since it is cultivated exclusively in the coastal area from Bagnara Calabra to Melito di Porto Salvo, i.e. from the Tyrrhenian Costa Viola to the first offshoots of the Costa dei Gelsomini, on the Ionian Sea, preferring the hillsides facing south and close to the sea. We just have to cross these scenic hills if we want to discover the secrets of the annona of Reggio Calabria up close!

The plant is over 2 metres high, a real tree with dense foliage and wide, pointed leaves. The flowering of the annona starts in May and continues until the fruit is fully ripe, between the end of August and September; then comes the harvest, which ends in mid-December. The fruit has a smooth, yellow-green skin, while inside it has a soft, fleshy, cream-coloured heart with large black seeds in the centre. The local farmers tell us how best to enjoy it: pure, as nature made it, but with the help of... a teaspoon, just like a real dessert!

Yes, because the annona fruit has the same consistency as the banana. The flavour is also reminiscent of it but with a more acidic note, reminiscent of pineapple or strawberry. The exotic, sugary flavour of the Reggio Calabria annona makes it perfect for confectionery production, and it is no coincidence that among the city's pastry shops and ice-cream parlours, from the Seafront to Corso Garibaldi, it can be found declined in various ways: sorbets, creams, jams, ice creams and slushies. 

The Calabrian annona is not only a delight to the palate, but also has remarkable properties and health benefits. In the meantime, it should be known that the annona ripens in just a few days after harvesting, and to prolong its shelf life, it should be stored immediately in the refrigerator; conversely, if you want to speed up the ripening process, it is advisable to wrap it in a woollen cloth or even straw, as was the ancient custom of our Reggio grandparents.

The organoleptic characteristics, hence the properties of annona and the benefits derived from it, are varied: cerimolia is rich in potassium, which is why its consumption is particularly indicated in the diets of the elderly, convalescents, pregnant women and even weaning children. The benefits of annona also consist of a high intake of phosphorus, iron and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.

Do you find it difficult to find Calabrian annona among the market stalls? Come and taste the annona of Reggio Calabria directly from local producers, in its land of origin. There is no sweeter excuse to visit the city and its enchanting surroundings.