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	Search Quick Order Form» Departments Vitamins Minerals Supplements Herbs Home & Grocery Diet & Fitness Body & Bath More Ways to Shop Brands A-Z Natural Remedies Children & Infants Women's Health Men's Health Seniors Free Catalog MotherNature.com's Catalog Is Here! Click Here to Get Your Free Copy Today. Newsletter Sign Up Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!		Library Home > Food Guide > Carambola CARAMBOLA Introduction Buying and storing Preparation tips Nutritional highlights Health benefits and concerns References Visit The Healthy Living Bookshelf: 21 Online Health Books From Rodale The unique star shape of carambola makes its slices a beautiful garnish for cakes, fruit and vegetable trays, and entrées. Believed to have originated in Malaysia, the carambola is a translucent green or pale yellow fruit, about 3 to 5 inches (7.6 to 12.5cm) long, that ripens to a golden yellow. It has four to six strongly pointed ridges that run from top to bottom, and when the fruit is cut crosswise each slice is shaped like a star, hence its nickname, “star fruit.” Varieties So far is known, there is just one variety of carambola. Buying and storing tips Look for shiny yellow carambolas that are without bruises and are not too soft. Carambolas with a little green color on the ridges may be ripened at home. Ripe carambola should be used as soon as possible. If it’s not going to be used immediately, tightly wrap ripe carambola in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. Availability Carambola is available year-round in well-stocked supermarkets and specialty groceries. Preparation, uses, and tips Carambolas do not need to be peeled. Unripe carambolas can be prepared as a vegetable, usually in stir-fry dishes. Ripe carambolas can be puréed into sorbets or puddings, or added to salads. When sliced, their unique star shape adds a beautiful garnish to cakes, cocktails, fruit and vegetable trays, and entrées. Dried carambola makes a delicious snack. Nutritional Highlights Carambola, 1 cup (137g) (cubes, raw) Calories: 45 Protein: 0.74g Carbohydrate: 10.7g Total Fat: 0.48g Fiber: 3.7g *Excellent source of: Vitamin C (29mg) *Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines. Health benefits and concerns Health benefits and concerns for fruit Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other fruit. Read about health benefits and concerns for fruit for a full description.

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