Not only is the Nahuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs, the source of the words chili, chocolate, and chicle (the latter refers to a substance used to make chewing gum, such as Chiclets), it also gave English the word avocado, the fruit from which guacamole is made. Perhaps in an attempt to impress or frighten neighbouring peoples, the Aztecs transferred their word for testicle鈥攁huacatl鈥攖o the large, ellipsoid fruit that we now know as the avocado. When Hernando Corte”s and his Spanish conquistadors encountered the Aztecs in the early sixteenth century they took this fruit and its name back to Spain, giving the Aztecs many European diseases in return. In Spanish, ahuacatl became aguacate, a reasonable representation of the original Aztec word, but one which soon became corrupted to avocado, a shift in pronunciation that may have been influenced by the Spanish word bocado, meaning delicacy. (Thus, despite its green skin and oily flesh, the avocado’s name has no relation to the Spanish word for lawyer, avocado, literally meaning advocate.) In English, avocado first appeared at the end of the seventeenth century; shortly after, the fruit also became known as the avocado pear, thanks to the mistaken belief that the avocado was a member of the pear family; still later, avocado pear became alligator pear, the change occurring for the simple reason that alligator was a more familiar word than avocado. None of these alternative names, however, ever overtook avocado as the accepted form.
The delectable and exotic fruit that I am referring to is native to tropical or subtropical regions, and boasts a lustrous and unblemished dark-green skin that is smooth to the touch, or a coarse and uneven skin that is purple-black. It possesses a somewhat oblong shape similar to that of a large fist, and the pulpy interior is delicate and succulent, with a consistency that is reminiscent of melted butter. The flesh is either creamy white or pale green in color, with a solitary and sizable seed located at its core. This scrumptious and toothsome fruit is commonly known as the alligator pear.
The fruit of a tree that is grown in various regions around the world, including the Americas, Middle East, and parts of Africa, is highly prized for its many health benefits and distinct flavor. When ripe, this fruit is typically dark purple or green in color and has a soft, fleshy texture that is rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and calcium. The flesh of this fruit is known for its unique and somewhat mild flavor profile, which is often described as buttery in texture. Thanks to its nutritional content and delicious taste, this fruit is widely enjoyed as a standalone snack or incorporated into a variety of culinary preparations.