Akebi from Yamagata and it grow on coniferous vines which flower in spring and bear fruit in fall. When ripe and ready for pickin, they look like reddish-purple (or brown) mangos which have been slit open with a blade. This opening reveals the almost translucent, white flesh that contains its seeds. You can slip the white jelly-like center into your mouth. Chew softly to enjoy its unique sweetness and texture, and then spit out the pits.
Purple Akebi has a soft and crunchy consistency with a mild, sweet, and subtly bitter flavor. When consumed, the flesh melts into a semi-sweet liquid with notes of pear, coconut, and melon, while the seeds provide a mildly bitter taste and added texture.
