Ackee

Ackee, also called ackee apple, is a fruit of the soapberry family Sapindaceae, the same family as lychee and longan, native to tropical West Africa. Its scientific name, Blighia sapida, honors Captain William Bligh, who carried the fruit from Jamaica to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in 1793, and its English name comes from the West African Akan name akye fufo. Although long reputed to be poisonous with potential fatalities, its fruit arils are considered delicious when ripe, properly prepared and cooked, and are a feature of various Caribbean cuisines; ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica and is considered a delicacy there.