Varieties
There are many cultivars; however, some may be
unavailable for purchase from nurseries due to a limited
amount of plant-propagation material or undesirable fruit
characteristics (). There are two main types of carambolas,
sweet and tart. Sweet types are recommended for fresh fruit
while both sweet and tart types are useful for processing
and home recipes. Some tart cultivars, such as ‘Golden Star’
attain a sweet flavor if they are allowed to ripen on the tree
(i.e., become golden yellow).