Know your fruit: The custard apple

Back in December, these custard apples were being sold right outside Taitung's railway station. Sometimes called sweetsops or Buddha's head fruit (because they resemble the Buddha's curly hair) they're one of Taitung's best-known agricultural products; more than four-fifths of Taiwan's custard apples are grown in the southeastern county.

When ready to eat, the exterior becomes soft. Inside, the flesh is white, sweet and somewhat like custard in texture. In Chinese, they known as shì jiā (釋迦).