Finding the perfect avocado in Hong Kong: why it’s harder than it looks
What rotten luck! This writer finds that gambling on avocados is like throwing good money in the bin
Most nutritionists would recommend stocking up on avocados. One website touts as many as “19 science-backed health benefits” of the fruit.
They’re hailed as being high in fibre and monounsaturated fat, which means they’re good for the heart. Avocados are also packed with minerals and vitamins – including B6, which gives the sex drive a boost. Studies have shown that people who eat them regularly have a better chance of losing inches from their waistline.
By all accounts, they are something of a miracle food. Ironically, though, it’s difficult to find a healthy avocado in Hong Kong – one that is green, smooth and creamy inside. More often than not they are either too hard or have gone rotten. Buying avocados is a game of chance.
Choosing a ripe one is simple enough, in theory. Just give it a gentle squeeze. If it’s too squishy, it may be overripe and useless. Most avocados in local supermarkets are rock hard, however. Buy the fruit and you’ll have to wait a few days for them to ripen. By the time they have softened, slice them open and you’re usually dismayed to find that the nutritious fruit you’ve been hoping to savour for breakfast is already mouldy grey, musty smelling and dried out.