Do you have that one tree in your community that got you wondering; “what exactly is this called?”
“What other name is it called?”
I have one such tree in my Father’s compound. He brought the seed of this tree from Ìkàrẹ́-Akóko of Ondo State, to Lagos State and planted it. He protected it so well, you would have thought it was a fragile, little child.
The tiny seed blossomed into a very big tree, a tree that gets every passerby stopping to stare at it!
Why?
This fruit tree is very uncommon in Lagos,
The fruits are very colorful
ETYMOLOGY
it has no known English name. My father told me they call it "Ake Apple" and I just could not wrap my head around what that will mean or what its spelling will be.
The “fruit of this tree”, that is; the edible part of the fruit is attached to the seed inside the fruit (No, I am not trying to drive you nuts ) should, sorry, MUST only be eaten after the fruit has opened up of its own will. If done otherwise, consumption of this fruit can result in death. The only known remedy is ‘almost a gallon of Palm oil’.
There is a very colorful insect associated with this tree, it breeds in hundreds of thousands and is “otherwise” unharmful, it creeps into every nook and cranny and could literally “catwalk” right past you.
If ever you visit South-western Nigeria, particularly Ondo and Ekiti States where this fruit tree is predominant, please do not touch it, let alone eat it, take a cute picture and move away.
TASTE
I am not a fan of this fruit, every one I know eats it except me.
FUN FACTS
It is called Isin (we have the consonant ‘s’ in two forms in the Yoruba Language, one is a ‘s’ as in see, the other is a ‘sh’ as in ‘sheen’, the ‘sh’ one is accented with a mark below the s). So, Isin is pronounced ‘E-sheen’. Not quite but very close
There is a Yoruba proverb woven around the Isin. It goes thus; “Oju ki pon Isin, Ko maa la” (my mum’s version), “Ti oju ba ti n pon isin, o ti fe la niyen” (My Dad’s version). Since the two of them could not agree, I promised both of them I will write the two versions. My mum’s version is the popular way it is being said, though; while my dad’s is the explanation. It literally translates to “When the eyes of the Isin begins to go red, it is about to burst open”, while the correct translation is; “When the Isin begins to ripen, when it begins to turn red, you know it is about to burst open”. The Isin is usually green, but gradually turns a bright color similar to peach when it is about to burst open. The meaning of the Proverb is; “When that point in time comes in your life and it seems like you have to undergo so much suffering, you should know that “breakthrough” is about to come”. It is synonymous to “Every dark cloud has a silver lining”.
It is usually consumed immediately after it is plucked (as long as it is open on the tree), I decided to leave it for one week
The fruit looks quite interesting @Ewaade_3A and attractive as well.
I appreciate you took the time to share a video and some closeup pictures of the fruit.
Since your dad thought of planting the tree and take care of the sapling to raise it, I am sure the plant and the fruit must be having something really important properties, that must be found out.
It is harmful, Only if you eat it before it opens up.
It must only be plucked after it has willfully Opened up, only then can one eat the succulent fruit. @Nageh
Take no fear, Nageh .
If you visit Nigeria, you can try some.
My people eat 'bowls on bowls of Isin’ and nothing ever happens to them. Only that we have to constantly warn passers-by to stay away from it since they are ever curious about it because of how attractive it is.
Bok @Ewaade_3A . Pa kako to da samo ti ne uživaš u “slatkoći” tog voća??! … U kakvoj “slatkoći” ti uživaš? . Vidiš da čak i tvoj mali nećak uživa u tome (on je sigurno prelijepi mali dječačić).
Draga opet si si dala puno truda i vremena, i stvorila novu lijepu i zanimljivu priču. Toliko volim (a tko ne voli?!) tvoj osebujan način i stil izražavanja (pisanja). Hvala mom anđelu čuvaru @Ewaade_3A
Yes, you are right @Ewaade_3A It won’t make sense exporting this fruit. With regard to stage 3 and 4, I was pointing to the picture #3 and 4 in your photo collage.
Hi @Ewaade_3A your post always have unique topic and amazing information. Very nice post. Nicely presented. I got new information about such fruit. Thank you so much for sharing it with us .
Weldone ewaede for bringing back the memory. Ishin is a fruit well known in my place, Komu, in Itesiwaju local government of Oyo state, Nigeria. In fact, the Ishin tree is well known to the entire Oke Ogun people as we have it all over the place. The popular place in Lagos call Mushin was derived from the Ishin tree . I want to believe the Oke Ogun people were the first inhabitants of the place and they were able to recognize the tree hence the name Mushin ( God knows what they did with the fruits on siting it then that brings the name Mushin)
The fruits can be used to make soup and the unripe fruits can be used for washing of clothes.
The correct English name for the fruit is Ackee fruit.It is predominant in southwest nigeria.I don’t think it is as deadly as being described.Though,I have never come across it in any other part of Nigeria other than the southwest.It is a very safe fruit to it.The idea that it could cause death if eaten while the fruit hasn’t open by itself is meant to scare people away and deter them from wasting the fruit by plucking it unopened.If riped,it tastes like milk with a taint of salt.While this is not a comprensive description of the taste,I guess it is the closest you can get untill you actually taste it.If forced opened,it tastes almost thesame but a bit acidic (just like an unripe orange tastes compare to rippened one).Besides,it feels harder while chewing unlike the soft gentle feel when it ripes.It can also be plucked if riped but unopened.One can keep it at home for a few days and it will open up on it’s own.Those who know the fruit abstain from plucking it when it hasn’t opened up just to avoid wastage,just the same u would an unripened orange or lemon.
Cool that your dad saved and protected this tree @Ewaade_3A creating a legacy for the future. I think we’ve talked about this fruit before and I found out we can get it in Australia and can even buy the trees.
(No, I am not trying to drive you nuts 
.
. Vidiš da čak i tvoj mali nećak uživa u tome (on je sigurno prelijepi mali dječačić).
