The Choquette Avocado

While most U.S. avocados are grown in California, Florida’s gaining attention for their amazing Choquette avocado. Not many people would guess that a state known for its alligators would also be home to avocados, which happen to have the nickname “alligator pears.” Gator name aside, the Choquette is growing in popularity because it represents the perfect intersection of quantity and quality in an avocado tree.

Are you curious to learn more about the Choquette avocado? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about this unique fruit! Read on to learn more about why so many folks are so excited about this beautiful avocado. We’ll explore how it tastes, where you can find it, how to grow it, and much more.

Characteristics of The Choquette Tree

Choquette avocado trees have a slight pineapple fragrance and make for gorgeous medium-sized shade trees. The fruits are often referred to as the “Florida Avocado” since they mostly thrive in that state within USDA Hardiness zones 9a through 10b.

And while there are a few avocado trees can grow up to 60 feet tall, the Choquette only reaches a maximum height of about 30 feet. They also produce large quantities of exceptionally large fruits. The Choquette tree blooms yellow-green blossoms that measure 1/2 inch in diameter. Their fruits can measure up to six inches long and weigh up to three pounds. They have glossy, soft, smooth green skin that peels easily and the mature leaves of this lovely evergreen are of a dark green color with a leathery texture.

Eating Them

Now let’s dive into the delicious details about the Choquette avocado fruit itself.

What do Choquette avocados taste like?

The Choquette avocado has a mild, rich, creamy, nutty flavor.

What do Choquette avocados go with?

These delicious avocados are wonderful in many dishes, including smoothies, salads, and toppings for a wide variety of cooked dishes such as tacos and burritos.

How to use Choquette avocados in cooking?

Many use Choquette avocados for toppings. Many choose to use them raw because avocado can become bitter when cooked. However, they can be delicious when roasted with the right seasonings and spices. One can roast avocados inside their skin for about 15 minutes at 392 degrees Fahrenheit.

Seasonings such as pepper, oil, seasoning salt, chili, and garlic powder help to draw out the avocado’s full flavor. You can also fill the hole left by the seed with ingredients such as salsa, shrimp, or egg before roasting.

Snackability of Choquette avocados

This is a highly snackable avocado with a rich, mild nutty flavor that makes for a healthy and delicious snack when eaten raw. And, of course, they make for some fantastic guacamole!

Kids

Because of their soft texture and mild, nutty flavor, Choquette avocados are a great meal or snack for toddlers and kids of all ages. They also contain healthy fats that researchers believe can aid brain health.

Other Uses

It’s also possible to make your own homemade avocado oil that you can use for frying, cooking, hair, and general beauty.

You’ll need a couple of ripe or overripe avocados, along with a little patience. It’s a great way to use your overripe harvest or those that are otherwise not useful for consumption.

And best of all, you don’t have to worry about any unnecessary preservatives, additives, and chemicals. You could even start your own business selling avocado oil.

Here’s a handy guide showing you just how to get started.

The Health Benefits of Choquette Avocados

Choquette, like all avocados, has some incredible health benefits.

All avocados have a high-fat content, but this fat is considered much healthier than the kind found in other fatty foods like meats. They are also very Keto-friendly and a great alternative for ingredients such as mayonnaise, especially on sandwiches.

Avocados are also a great source of Vitamins E, K, and C, fiber, potassium, and folate. Plus, they can give your immune system a big boost and are a natural laxative. Avocados also help reduce blood pressure cholesterol and, as mentioned earlier, promote brain health.

These fruits also improve eye health and can help regulate appetite.

Growing At Home

It is possible to grow Choquette avocados at home. However, they thrive best in USDA hardiness zones 9a-10b. Also, please be aware that Avocado trees have aggressive roots that tend to hoard nutrients of local soil, often to the detriment of other plants. So, you want to plant your Choquette trees far enough away from other plants.

With this in mind, you’ll want to plant them at least 20 feet from any surrounding plants, giving the roots plenty of room to stretch out without impacting your other flora.

Choquette trees are also self-pollinating, so they don’t require the presence of another tree to deliver a good harvest. Although they can, it can still be beneficial to have other avocado tree varieties as cross pollinators.

Pests & Diseases

Pests such as June beetles, snails, and rats are the main critters that threaten avocado trees. Rats are known to climb trees and consume their fruit and bark.

June beetles love to eat the flower buds before they bloom. These insects are extremely difficult to catch in the act since they only eat at night, but you can trap them to help protect your tree.

Snails eat on fruit and leaves, and you’ll notice their damage as you’ll see holes in the foilage inviting rot. However, this is not as big of an issue for mature trees but can be devastating for younger trees.

For more information about growing an avocado tree at home, including tips on growing from seed, pruning, maintenance, and pest control, please take a look at our extensive “How to Grow An Avacado Tree” guide.

Can you grow the Choquette avacodo?

You can grow avocados from seed by saving them from your fruits. However, this method will take several years (5-7) before you have a fruit-bearing tree.

You can buy a young avocado plant for faster results, but this is a more expensive option as the grower had put so much time and hard work into growing the tree for several years.

When to Harvest to the Choquette

The Choquette avocado is a late-season variety, so the harvest season runs from October through December.

Will it come back next year?

While avocado trees do bear fruit yearly, the amount can vary greatly. However, Choquette trees are renowned for their large harvests. While unlikely, avocado trees can bear anywhere from 200 to 300 fruit per year once it reaches the mature age of 5-7 years old. And avocado trees can live between 200 to 400 years!

Where To Buy Choquette Avocado Trees Or Seeds

If you’re shopping for Choquette seeds, trees, or fruits, you have a few options.

You can buy trees for sale online, many of which are mature enough to produce fruit in 2-3 years instead of 5-7. And if you live in Florida or the surrounding states, you may find some trees at your local nursery.

Where To Buy Choquette Avocados

As for the fruit, I’d recommend checking out your local farmer’s market if you happen to live in or near USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-10b. Otherwise, you can always contact a Florida avocado farm to see if they ship.

And, of course, you’ll get the seeds when you buy the fruits.

Choquette Avocado: Conclusion

The Choquette avocado is a large, deliciously nutty, and mild fruit that has a creamy texture on par with its California cousins. There’s a good reason why it’s considered the unofficial avocado of the sunshine state!

Are you a member of the Choquette avocado fan club? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences with this fruit in the comment section below!

Excited for more avocado content? Then check out my avocado page for more growing tips, info guides, and great recipes!