You’ve probably heard plenty of myths and legends about these magical fruit. Some say they can butterfly a person; others say they can only be eaten by royalty. The truth is, we don’t really know for sure what kind of influence the cara cara has on us.

But we do know that it is a very important part of our daily diet. The origin of the term ‘carambola’, which in Spanish translates to ‘pear-duck’, has something to do with these orange-shaped fruits, also known as Allamanda carambola or Arachis hypogaea in English.

In Hindi, it is called karu luchi or Karun born tree. Arachis hypogaea belongs to the family Apiaceae and the genus Cara Cara or Allamanda in most English language dictionaries lists over 50 species across the world.

However, some sources list only 4–8 as being true cara caras such as Lemon Allamanda Lemongrass and Thai Cantaloupe watermelons are all considered false cara caras because they do not have a pear-shaped shape like an orange. So yes, there are actually different types of oranges and which ones are best for you will depend on your personal needs and taste buds – or should I say… craving?

 

What Is a Cara Cara?

A cara cara is an orange-shaped fruit that is one of the more popular fruits in Asia. It is called a cara cara because it looks like a duck’s bill with an orange strip down the middle.

It is native to South and Southeast Asia and is also found in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka. The name cara cara comes from the Malay language and means ‘pear-duck’.

 

What Fruit Is a Cara Cara?

The orange-colored cara cara is a type of sweet potato and is also called a sweet potato banana. The sweet potato is a member of the lily family and is also called a carbuncle because of its bumpy skin and large, brown, edible inside. The name cara cara comes from the Malay language and it is also sometimes spelled as carrot potato.

 

How to Tell if a Fruit Is a Cara Cara or Not

The easiest way to tell if a fruit is a cara cara or not is to see if it looks like an orange when it is ripe. The inside of an orange is soft and squishy while the outside is hard and spongy. If you touch the inside of an orange, you will probably feel a soft, squishy sensation that tells you it is ripe.

On the other hand, if you touch an orange wearing gloves, you will probably feel a hard, spongy surface. The other way to tell if a fruit is a cara cara or not is to taste it. Eating the fruit will give you a sweet, buttery taste that is often followed by a savory, caramelly aftertaste. If you can’t eat an orange because of your health conditions or you don’t like the taste of citrus fruits, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a cara cara. You just need to check if it is a good fit for you.

 

The Benefits of Eating an Orange

Although we love oranges for their sweet, buttery taste, they are also known to boost metabolism and provide a great deal of vitamin C as well as strong immunity. In fact, eating an orange 2 to 3 times a week can help protect your teeth from getting Decay because bicarbonate in the mouth helps loosen up the enamel and makes teeth weaker. Orange is also rich in vitamin A and C, niacin, potassium, vitamin B-12 and iron. You can enjoy an orange as a snack or a meal.

 

The Downsides of Eating an Orange

Eating an orange is good for you. However, you should be aware of some potential downsides as mentioned above. One of the biggest downsides of eating an orange is that it is very high in calories.

Many people don’t realize that consuming too many calories through too many sources (including foods with a high sugar content) can lead to weight gain. Another downside of orange is that it is high in acid, which can cause heartburn and acidity. If you are prone to heartburn or acidity, you should refrain from eating oranges.

 

Summary

Cara caras are orange-shaped fruits that are native to South and Southeast Asia and are also found in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka. The name cara cara comes from the Malay language and means ‘pear-duck’. Cara caras have been known to have a variety of health benefits. They contain high levels of vitamin C as well as niacin.

In addition, they are rich in potassium which helps with maintaining blood pressure as well as helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Cara caras also have anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce inflammation in the body by reducing pro-inflammatory molecules like cytokines (or immune system) or other factors that cause inflammation including free radicals (which can damage your DNA).