Akee

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of tropical fruit native to West Africa, this species is characterized by its potentially toxic unripe state while being a sought-after ingredient in certain Caribbean dishes when fully matured
2. Known for its rich, buttery consistency and distinct taste, this fruit must be carefully prepared, as it can be hazardous if consumed before reaching ripeness
3. A tropical fruit originating from West Africa, it features an edible part that is delicious when ripe, while its unripe form can pose health risks to those who consume it

Etymology: The fruit's name arrived in English from the Akan language of Ghana, where it is "akye." Akan speakers knew the tree long before European traders carried it across the Atlantic, and the fruit travelled with the enslaved Africans and the ships that moved them, reaching the Caribbean, where it became a staple of Jamaican cooking. The spelling "akee" is simply a variant of "ackee," the form most dictionaries now prefer. The fruit's sharp danger comes from hypoglycin A and B, toxins concentrated in the unopened pod and in the arils, the fleshy yellow parts, before they ripen. Only the arils of fully open pods are safe to eat, which is why cooks wait for the fruit to split on the tree before picking it.