Although the
balimbing (carambola) is endemic to the Philippines, we are having a hard time finding this tree in our place. Scientifically known as
Averrhoa carambola, the
balimbing has distinctively shaped fruits, each having multiple, typically five, ridges. The sour variety of the
balimbing is is greener and smaller than the greenish-yellow (and sweeter) variant.
When sliced crosswise, the resulting section is star-shaped, so
balimbing is aptly called star fruit. Because of its numerous sides, balimbing has also become a Tagalog political slang term for turncoats. Following is a picture of a
balimbing fruit from various angles:
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