Chikku is sapodilla, a Central American fruit tree now grown widely in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Its brown, sweet, malty fruit is eaten fresh and blended into milkshakes. The Gholvad chikoo of Dahanu in Maharashtra holds a geographical indication. The tree’s latex, chicle, was the original base of chewing gum.
- Botanical name
- Manilkara zapota (L.) P.Royen
- Family
- Sapotaceae
- Tamil
- Chikku
- Hindi
- Chikoo
- Parts used
- Fruit
- Habit
- Sapodilla, a homestead fruit tree; its latex was the first chewing gum
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Chikku
It is an evergreen tree, usually eight to fifteen metres, with dark, glossy, pointed leaves clustered at the branch tips.
Small, white, bell-shaped flowers sit in the leaf axils.
Cut bark and unripe fruit ooze white, sticky latex.
The fruit is round to oval with rough brown skin, and soft, grainy, brown flesh when ripe.
Inside are a few shiny black seeds with a small hook at one end.
Traditional use of Chikku
Kitchen
Ripe chikku is eaten fresh or blended with milk into chikoo shake.
Indian food practice
Industry
In Mexico and Guatemala chicleros tapped the trees for chicle, which was boiled into chewing gum base.
Central American history
Farming
Indian nurseries graft chikku onto khirni rootstock for hardy trees.
Indian nursery practice
Modern notes on Chikku
The fruit is high in sugars and fibre, with some vitamin C and potassium.
Synthetic gum bases replaced chicle in most chewing gum after the mid-twentieth century.
Unripe fruit is full of latex and tannins, which make it astringent.
Chikku safety
Remove the seeds before eating; their hooked tips can lodge in the throat or gut. People with diabetes should count chikku as a high-sugar fruit.
Ecology and sourcing
It is native to southern Mexico and Central America.
Bats and birds eat the ripe fruit.
It tolerates salt spray and grows well in coastal areas.
Related plants
Also in Sapotaceae
Questions about Chikku
Is chikku the same as sapota?
Yes. Both names refer to sapodilla.
Was chewing gum made from Chikku?
Yes, from its latex, chicle.
Can the seeds of Chikku be eaten?
No. Remove them.
How do I know a chikku is ripe?
It gives slightly to pressure and the skin scratches brown, not green.
Where is chikku grown in India?
Mainly Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Sources
- Manilkara zapota (L.) P.Royen — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q14959 (Manilkara zapota)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.