Starfruit
Fruit & berry· tropical fruit

What it is
Starfruit (carambola) is the fruit of Averrhoa carambola, a tree native to South and Southeast Asia, with a cross-section shaped like a star.
What it tastes like
On the nose: sassafras, orange-rose, citrus. Among its measured molecules: 4-ketoisophorone, 2,4-dimethylhexan-3-one, 2,5-dimethylcyclohexanol, 4-methyltridecane, 2-hydroxy-2-methylhept-6-en-3-one.
What goes with it
- Dry vermouthboth carry anetholcite
- Fennel bulbboth carry anetholcite
- Fennel seedboth carry anetholcite
Salt and acid
Salt
Sodium 2 mg per 100 g — USDA FoodData Central 171715.
Acid
Acid not measured yet.
Unusual pairings
Pairs the library can cite that almost nobody makes.
- Starfruit + Nutmeg
both carry safrole, sassafras (11 of 338 carry it)
- Starfruit + Mace
both carry safrole, sassafras (11 of 338 carry it)
- Starfruit + Parsley
both carry limonene, lemon (126 of 338 carry it)
24 of 96 compounds on file carry a paper the library can cite.
myristicinaromaacidMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
16.82% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 4.61% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit -- the paper's abstract states this ether 'found exclusively in these' (the tropically-grown, non-Egyptian) fruits — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Aldehydes, row 17, CLI and CLM columns; discussed in the paper's abstract as found 'exclusively' in tropically-grown fruit)safrolearomareads as sassafras odor (PubChem)Measured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
8.53% average relative peak area in Malaysian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Oxides, row 23, CLM (Malaysian) column)methyl hexanoatearomaesterMeasured in 11 of 338 ingredients.cite
49.82% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit, the single largest peak in the entire table; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit -- the paper's own abstract calls it 'the major component, distinguishing it from other origins' — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 7, CLRE (Egyptian) column; named in the paper's abstract as 'the major component' distinguishing Egyptian fruit)2-heptanonearomaketonereads as pear-like flavor (PubChem)Measured in 22 of 338 ingredients.cite
5.69% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian ripe fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Ketones, row 1, Egyptian ripe fruit (CLRE) column)methyl octanoatearomaesterreads as oily, somewhat orange taste (PubChem)Measured in 6 of 338 ingredients.cite
4.23% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 10, CLRE (Egyptian) column)decanalaromaaldehydereads as citrus odor (PubChem)Measured in 36 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.10% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 6.16% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Aldehydes, row 15, CLI and CLM columns)linalyl acetatearomaterpenoidreads as bergamot-lavender odor (PubChem)Measured in 12 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.69% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 11, CLRE (Egyptian) column)hexanoic acidtasteacidMeasured in 24 of 338 ingredients.cite
3.85% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Acids, row 20, CLRE (Egyptian) column)β-cyclocitralaromaterpenoidMeasured in 10 of 338 ingredients.cite
4.89% average relative peak area in Malaysian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Aldehydes, row 16, CLM (Malaysian) column)2-nonanonearomaketoneMeasured in 9 of 338 ingredients.cite
2.00% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Ketones, row 3, CLRE (Egyptian) column)limonenearomaterpenoidreads as pleasant lemon-like (PubChem)Measured in 91 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.40% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 19, CLRE (Egyptian) column)myrcenearomaterpenoidreads as pleasant (PubChem)Measured in 68 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.46% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Monoterpene hydrocarbons, row 18, CLRE (Egyptian) column)ethyl hexanoatearomaesterMeasured in 36 of 338 ingredients.cite
10.32% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit; also named alongside methyl caproate in the Discussion as contributing 'their highest levels' to Egyptian fruit's aroma — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 8, CLRE (Egyptian) column)nonanalaromaaldehydereads as orange-rose odor (PubChem)Measured in 59 of 338 ingredients.cite
16.49% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 13.82% in Malaysian ripe fruit, the largest single aldehyde peak reported; not detected in Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Aldehydes, row 14, CLI and CLM columns)4-ketoisophoronearomaketoneMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
2.55% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Ketones, row 4, CLRE (Egyptian) column)2,4-dimethylhexan-3-onearomaMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.25% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 2.73% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Ketones, row 5 ('3-Hexanone, 2,4-dimethyl-'), CLI and CLM columns)2,5-dimethylcyclohexanolaromaMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
9.41% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Alcohols, row 21, CLRE (Egyptian) column)4-methyltridecanearomaMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.92% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 10.97% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Aliphatic hydrocarbons, row 24 ('Tridecane, 4-methyl-'), CLI and CLM columns)2-hydroxy-2-methylhept-6-en-3-onearomaMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.61% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 6.17% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Ketones, row 2, CLI (Indonesian) and CLM (Malaysian) columns)anetholaromaetherreads as sweet taste (PubChem)Measured in 11 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.45% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Oxides, row 22, CLRE (Egyptian) column)cis-geranylacetonearomaterpenoidMeasured in 4 of 338 ingredients.cite
12.13% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 12.72% in Malaysian ripe fruit, the largest single ketone peak in the table; not detected in Egyptian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Ketones, row 6, CLI and CLM columns)(Z)-3-hexenyl propanoatearomaesterMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
0.22% average relative peak area in Egyptian ripe starfruit; not detected in Indonesian or Malaysian fruit — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 9 ('3-Hexen-1-ol, propanoate, (Z)-'), CLRE (Egyptian) column)oxalic acid, butyl propyl esteraromaMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
1.20% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 1.30% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit. The paper's abstract notes 'considerable amounts of volatile oxalate esters detected via SPME, and which must not be omitted in total oxalate determinations for safety assessments' — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 12, CLI and CLM columns; discussed in the paper's abstract as a food-safety-relevant volatile oxalate ester)oxalic acid, heptyl propyl esteraromaacidMeasured in 1 of 338 ingredients.cite
3.84% average relative peak area in Indonesian ripe starfruit and 6.49% in Malaysian ripe fruit; not detected in Egyptian fruit (see oxalic acid butyl propyl ester entry for the paper's safety note) — Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules (Table 2, Esters, row 13, CLI and CLM columns; discussed in the paper's abstract as a food-safety-relevant volatile oxalate ester)
On file, no cited source yet ✳
These molecules are on record for it from the library's earlier sources. We are buying and requesting the papers; each one that lands moves its molecule up into the cited list.
- Epicatechin gallateester
- terpinen-4-olalcoholreads as pine (PubChem)
- methyl isopropyl ketoneketone
- 2-methylacetophenoneketone
- Carambolaflavoneflavonoid
- 1-penten-3-olalcohol
- Procyanidin B2flavonoid
- palmitic acidacidreads as slight characteristic taste (PubChem)
- beta-pineneterpenoidreads as terpene odor (PubChem)
- 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-[(1E,3E,5E,7E,9E)-3,7,12,16-tetramethyl-18-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)octadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17-nonaenyl]cyclohexeneterpenoid
- ethyl sorbateester
- zeta-caroteneterpenoid
- isovitexinflavonoid
- (6S,10R,12E,14E,16E,19R,20E,23S,27R)-2,6,10,14,19,23,27,31-octamethyldotriaconta-2,12,14,16,20,30-hexaene
- (4S)-4-hydroxy-4-[(E,3S)-5-hydroxy-3-methylpent-1-enyl]-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-oneterpenoid
- (2S,6S,7aR)-2-[(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-15-[(2R,7aR)-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-6,11-dimethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaen-2-yl]-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran-6-olterpenoid
- (2S,6R,7aS)-2-[(2E,4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E)-15-[(2S,7aR)-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl]-6,11-dimethylhexadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14-heptaen-2-yl]-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-benzofuran-6-olterpenoid
- 7',8'-Dihydro-psi,psi-caroteneterpenoid
- d-carvoneterpenoid
- (4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-17-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)heptadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-octaenalterpenoid
- 5-O-methyl embelin
- (4E,6E,8E,10E,12E,14E,16E)-2,6,11,15-tetramethyl-17-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)heptadeca-2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16-octaen-1-olterpenoid
- acetaldehydealdehydereads as pungent, fruity odor (PubChem)
- (+)-epicatechinphenol
- sulcatolalcohol
- (3S,5R,8R,3'R)-mutatoxanthinterpenoid
- benzaldehydealdehydereads as burning aromatic taste (PubChem)
- benzyl alcoholalcoholreads as faint aromatic odor (PubChem)
- 3-phenylprop-2-enalacid
- isoamyl alcoholalcohol
- butyl acetateesterreads as sweet (PubChem)
- methyl salicylateesterreads as liquid having the characteristic odor of wintergreen (PubChem)
- 2-methoxy-6-undecylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione
- 5-[(1S)-2,6,6-Trimethyl-4-oxo-1-hydroxy-2-cyclohexenyl]-3-methyl-2,4-pentadien-1-olterpenoid
- (2S,4R)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-olterpenoid
- epsilon-caroteneterpenoid
- 3-methoxy-5-undecylphenol
- β-caroteneterpenoid
- all-trans-zeta-caroteneterpenoid
- neurosporeneterpenoid
- 8'-apo-beta-carotenolterpenoid
- cryptoxanthinterpenoid
- luteinterpenoid
- Abscisic alcoholterpenoid
- apocarotenalterpenoid
- phenylethyl alcoholalcoholreads as sharp burning taste (PubChem)
- hexanalaldehydereads as sharp, aldehyde odor (PubChem)
- 1-pentanolalcoholreads as mild odor (PubChem)
- Cinnamaldehydealdehydereads as sweet taste (PubChem)
- trans-β-iononeterpenoidreads as warm woody, dry, and fruity odor (PubChem)
- all-trans-phytoflueneterpenoid
- epigallocatechin gallateester
- isobutanolalcoholreads as sweet, musty odor (PubChem)
- alpha-pineneterpenoidreads as odor of turpentine (PubChem)
- ethyl nicotinateacid
- Veratroleether
- quinolinenitrogen compoundreads as penetrating odor, not as offensive as pyridine (PubChem)
- methyl benzoateesterreads as fragrant odor (PubChem)
- ethyl benzoateester
- benzothiazolenitrogen compoundreads as odor similar to that of quinoline (PubChem)
- (−)-epicatechinphenol
- (-)-epigallocatechinflavonoid
- acetophenoneketonereads as sweet pungent odor (PubChem)
- phenethyl acetateester
- ethyl butyrateesterreads as pineapple odor (PubChem)
- ethyl decanoateester
- 1-hexanolalcoholreads as fatty, fruity (PubChem)
- methyl anthranilateesterreads as grape-like odor (PubChem)
- ethyl acetateesterreads as fragrant odor (PubChem)
- 2,5-dimethoxy-3-undecylphenol
- 1-octanolalcoholreads as fresh orange rose odor (PubChem)
- 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-oneketonereads as fruity taste (PubChem)
Sources
- Ramadan et al. 2020, Molecules