Cherimoya is not also soursop although they are both related tropical fruits in the same "Annonaceae" family but they are also different species.
Soursop also known as graviola is oval shaped with prickly skin and a more tart taste and is often described as being a taste of a mix of pineapple, coconut and strawberry.
And cherimoya is a heart shaped fruit with scales and has a sweet and creamy flavor like banana and pineapple and is also known as a custard apple.
Cherimoya is a subtropical fruit that has a sweet, creamy custardy flesh and also an artichoke like bumpy green skin.
Cherimoya is native to the high elevation Andean valleys of Ecuador, Colombia and also Peru in South America.
Cherimoya fruits have also spread to many other subtropical and tropical regions globally, which includes Southern California, the Mediterranean region, Australia, South Asia and even Central America.
The cherimoya tree is also indigenous to the mountainous regions of the Andes, most specifically the inter-Andean valleys of Ecuador, Colombia and also Peru.
The cherimoya fruit was also introduced to Spain in the year of 1757 and then it was subsequently cultivated in other Mediterranean countries such as Italy.
And cherimoya fruit also is naturalized in parts of the United States such as Hawaii, California and even the Mediterranean.
And today though cherimoya fruit is also grown commercially in places like Israel, Spain, Chile and even Australia.
The name cherimoya is also derived from the Quechua word "chirimuya," which means "cold seeds," which refers to the high altitudes where the cherimoya tree lives and thrives.
Cherimoya fruit are heart shaped tropical fruits which are also known for their sweet, custard like flavor and are often described as a blend of pineapple, banana and even vanilla, along with hints of strawberry and papaya.
The scaly green skin of the cherimoya fruit also conceals the creamy white flesh, but the large, black inedible seeds have to be removed before eating.
The cherimoya fruits are best eaten fresh by scooping it using a spoon and the cherimoya fruits also make delicious additions to desserts and smoothies.