Hortiforum

General Info – Caqui, Wongi, Wongai Plum, Sawo Kacik, Kayu Sawo

A bite-sized Sapodilla, perfect for those with a sweet tooth and looking to add a larger evergreen tree to their food forest.
Caqui fruits are 3–4 cm long, roughly the size and shape of an oval Kumquat, and bearing resemblance to the Jambolan Plum, though they have orange-red skin. When fully ripe, they’re considered to have a very pleasant flavour, similar to that of the closely related Sapodilla, which is often described as tasting like brown sugar or molasses. Caqui is also related to other members of the Sapotaceae family, such as Abiu and Mamey Sapote. Its flavour is sometimes compared to Dates and Pears, though some find it sweet but a little bland. While Caqui has been enjoyed throughout its native range for generations, it’s not widely cultivated.
Caqui has a broad native range, stretching across much of South-East Asia and tropical northern Australia. It’s well-suited to a variety of tropical environments, particularly those with a monsoonal or distinct wet-and-dry climate. While it thrives with abundant rainfall, it also shows good tolerance for dry periods within its native habitat. It prefers well-drained soils, such as sandy loam, and grows well in a protected position with either full sun or part shade. Like its relative, the sapodilla, caqui can be grown in subtropical climates, though it may grow more slowly. Some sources suggest it can tolerate light frosts on rare occasions. Caqui is a slow-to-fruit species, often taking more than five years to begin producing fruit.
Caqui is a moderate to large tree, reaching 25 to even 30 metres in height when fully mature, making it unsuitable for small backyards but ideal for larger orchards or food forests. It has a low-branching habit, with glossy green leaves that contrast beautifully with their pale grey undersides. Cream to white flowers appear in the leaf axils.

Plant Profile/Properties