Individuals from tropical countries might not have heard of avocados. This particular fruit is cultivated in Mediterranean climates all around the world and features as an important culinary aspect in multiple cuisines. It is basically a single-seeded berry which has its root in Mexico and Central America, although some people consider it to be a vegetable. It has three layers: one outer layer, one middle layer and the layer that contains the seed. Technically, avocados belong to the same family of fruits as that of cinnamon. Usually, avocados are dark green and are egg-shaped or pear-shaped. This fruit is served in numerous preparations of Mexican, Indonesian, Brazilian and Australian cuisines. Colloquially, it is known as the Alligator Pear, because of its dark-green rough surface that resembles the back of an alligator.

Although avocados are one of the most well-known and popular culinary delicacies in the world, there are lesser known facts about the fruit which might be interesting to the common people. Some of these facts are as follows:

• Mexico remains the first region to have used avocados for culinary preparations. In fact, the oldest evidence of avocado being used in cuisines has been found in a cave in Puebla, Mexico and it dates back to around 10000 B.C.E.

• There are 80 different varieties of avocados that are being cultivated across the world. The most common ones of these is Hass avocado that can be found in Mexico and southern USA.

• The productivity of an avocado tree is astounding to say the least. One single California tree can produce 500 avocados per year. They are fibre-reach fruits and totally cholesterol-free.

• The avocado trees are 40-80 feet in height and have leaves that are elliptical. The leaves are between 3cm and 10cm long.

• Avocados are coveted by experts for their nutritional value. An avocado contains almost 1000mgs of potassium, which is much more than a lot of other fruits. It is actually more than what a single banana contains in its nutritional values.

• Avocados can be nutritious for the skin as well and that too without being consumed. The antioxidants of an avocado can keep skin moisturized when applied like a face-pack.

• Recent studies have shown that avocados are effective against the spread of cancer. In fact, it gives the body protection against oral and breast cancer.

• Avocados, surprisingly, do not ripen while they are attached to the tree! To ripen them, they need to be picked and stored in a place for ripening. Avocados remain perfectly suitable for consumption for seven more months.

• San Diego in California is known as the avocado capital of the world. Avocado is a successful cash crop for these parts of USA.

• Not all people are happy avocado consumers. Some around the world have been known to have allergies to this fruit. The symptoms include generalised urticaria, abdominal pain and vomiting.

These are only some of the lesser known facts about avocados. With the globalization of culinary culture around the world, it is expected that more and more people will come to be familiarized with the fruit.