Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Whether it's with bulla, bammy or bread, avocado, popularly called pear in Jamaica, is a favourite on the island.

Some like to crush it on top of a bulla, but, when paired with rice, crackers, dumplings, in a salad, or as a dip, pear is just as tasty.

The fruit is originally from Mexico and there are several varieties in Jamaica.

During pear season, August to December, the markets are usually flooded with the fruit in every shape and size. Round or oval, the skin ranges from green to deep purple or black when ripe. It is usually a bit difficult to tell whether the pear is ripe by just looking at it. Judging the degree of ripeness of the green-skinned pear requires experience. Usually, the skin loses much of the gloss and becomes duller; the tip of the fruit usually ripens first and applying light pressure on that part may be used as a test of its ripeness.

Uses

Pear is usually popular in vegetarian cuisine. It makes an excellent substitute for meats in sandwiches and salads because of its high fat content. The fruit is not sweet, but has a distinct yet subtle flavour with a smooth, almost creamy texture.

In Mexico it is used as the base for dips known as guacamole, as well as a filling for several kinds of sushi, including California rolls.

In Brazil and Vietnam, avocados are considered sweet fruits, so are frequently used for milkshakes, and occasionally added to ice cream and other desserts. In Australia it is commonly served in sandwiches, often with chicken.

Pear is served with white rice and in soups, salads, or on the side of chicken and meat in Mexico and Central America. Meanwhile, in Chile, it's used as a purée in chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs and in slices for celery or lettuce salads. The Chilean version of Caesar salad contains large slices of avocado.

Nowadays people who are big on healthy eating believe that because of the fat content in avocado it is advisable not to have it when on a diet. However, because it has other nutritional value, it can be consumed in moderation. An avocado contains approximately 15 per cent fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat. It has 60 per cent more potassium than bananas. It is rich in vitamins B, E and K. It has the highest fibre content of any fruit - including 75 per cent insoluble and 25 per cent soluble fibre.

Aside from the fruit's culinary uses, it is widely used in beauty products, such as facial scrubs, creams, moisturisers and body oils. Many spas offer avocado facial treatments.