Chikoo (sapota) is one of India's softest, most caramel-like fruits, and also one of the hardest to carry around because it bruises so easily. Freeze dried chikoo keeps the flavour and turns it into a light, crunchy snack that sits happily in a bag.

What is freeze dried chikoo?

Freeze dried chikoo is ripe sapota that has been frozen and then dried under vacuum, so the water leaves without heat cooking the fruit. What remains is a crisp, airy slice that is 100% real fruit.

Frudo makes its chikoo slices this way, with no added sugar.

What does freeze dried chikoo taste like?

It tastes like concentrated chikoo: malty, honey-like and gently sweet. The texture is the surprise, because the usual grainy softness turns into a light crunch that melts as you chew.

How is it different from fresh chikoo?

Fresh chikoo is soft, sticky and ripens in a day or two, so it is often eaten in a rush or thrown away. Freeze dried chikoo is dry and crisp, weighs very little, and does not need a fruit bowl or a fridge.

Fresh fruit still has its place, and it is the better choice when you want juice and a big, filling portion.

Is freeze dried chikoo the same as dried chikoo?

No. Sun-dried or oven-dried chikoo is chewy, dense and often sticky, while freeze dried chikoo is light and crunchy because ice is removed directly as vapour. If you want the full comparison, our guide to freeze dried versus dried fruit covers it.

How do you eat freeze dried chikoo?

Eat it straight from the pack as a crunchy fruit snack, or let a slice sit on your tongue and soften. It also works crumbled over yogurt, oats or a smoothie bowl, and tucked into a kids' lunchbox because it will not turn soggy.

For more ideas, browse the Frudo recipes, including ones with sitaphal and jamun.

What nutrients does chikoo contain?

According to the National Horticulture Board of India, sapota provides about 6 mg of vitamin C and 269 mg of potassium per 100 g of fresh fruit. That describes the fresh fruit in general, not any Frudo pack, and packs vary, so always read the label on the pack you buy.

What we can say about our own slices is simple: they have no added sugar and are 100% real fruit.

Can kids eat freeze dried chikoo?

Many Indian parents pack it as a lunchbox fruit snack because it is dry, light and mess-free. For toddlers, the slices are crunchy and can be hard to chew, so break them up and sit with your child while they eat, or read our toddler guide.

Where can I buy freeze dried chikoo in India?

You can buy freeze dried fruit online at frudo.in, where Frudo ships across India from Mumbai. Frudo holds FSSAI licence 11526997001132. If you want to try more than one flavour, the variety pack is an easy start, and freeze dried custard apple (sitaphal) is a natural partner for chikoo.

Quick answers

• What is it? Chikoo (sapota) that is freeze dried into a crunchy slice, 100% real fruit.
• Taste? Malty, honey-like and gently sweet.
• Versus dried? Freeze dried is light and crisp; dried is chewy and dense.
• How to eat? Straight from the pack, over yogurt or oats, or in a lunchbox.
• Added sugar? None in Frudo's freeze dried fruit.