Custard Apple City of India: Which city holds this title and why?

Custard apple, which is also popularly known as sitaphal or sharifa in India, is grown across several states in India.

However, there is one region that stands out more than others, so much so that it is lovingly called the Custard Apple City of India.

The district we are talking about is located in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region and garners attention as one of India’s most famous custard apple-producing areas.

Any guesses as to which place we are referring to? Well, we are talking about Beed.

Why is Beed the Custard Apple City of India?

Just like how Malda is the Mango City of India and Kotgarh is the Apple City of India, Beed is the Custard Apple City of India as it is blessed with a dry climate (low rainfall) that creates ideal conditions for the cultivation of custard apples.

More from Lifestyle

In fact, the Balaghat mountain range also acts as a contributing factor. Its shallow, gravelly, well-drained soil with high potassium and micronutrient content is suitable for growing custard apples in abundance.

The fruit grown here is regarded for its naturally sweet taste, creamy texture and strong aroma.

Custard apple cultivation in Beed dates back several centuries. Research cited by regional agricultural sources suggests that the fruit flourished in the Deccan Plateau after being introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

The main cultivation belts in Beed include Kaij, Dharur, Ambajogai, Manjarsumba, and Balaghat regions.

The produce from Beed is sold in major Indian markets including Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Delhi.

Custard apples in Beed have earned the reputed GI tag

The most commonly found custard apple variety in Beed is the GI-tagged Beed Custard Apple, locally known as Sitaphal. It was granted GI status on May 31, 2016, by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.

It belongs primarily to the species Annona squamosa and is prized for its intensely sweet flavour, creamy pulp and strong aroma.

Custard apple varieties you can find in Beed

Within Beed’s cultivation belt, farmers also grow or compare local fruits with a few recognised custard apple cultivars and hybrids, including:

1. Balanagar:  A widely cultivated Indian custard apple cultivar used in research and orchard rejuvenation studies. It is mild to moderate sweet, features a creamy pulp with a medium aroma.

2. Mammoth: It is known for larger fruit size and often referenced in sugar-content comparisons with Beed custard apples. It has a dense flesh with mild vanilla-like undertones.

3. Washington: Another commercial variety of custard apple, this one has light sweetness, juice pulp, and has a slightly grainy texture.

4. British Guiana: This one is occasionally cited in agricultural comparisons of pulp and sugar levels. Featuring a pleasant aroma, this custard apple variety offers a lighter mouthfeel with slightly fruity and tangy notes.

However, the dominant and most famous local produce remains the native Beed Sitaphal, cultivated extensively in areas such as Dharur, Ambajogai, Kaij and the Balaghat range.

Maharashtra dominates custard apple production

Maharashtra is considered India’s leading custard apple-producing state, with regions such as Amravati, Beed and parts of Vidarbha becoming major hubs for cultivation.

Amravati, especially the Melghat region, is also well known for its high-quality organic custard apples.

Other Indian regions known for custard apples

While Maharashtra leads the way, custard apples are also popular in Telangana (especially Jangaon), Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, and Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum region

Different regions know the fruit by different names, including sitaphal, sharifa, seethapazham and sugar apple.