Origin: Southern Mexico and central America

Etymology: from the Aztec chayotl

The chayote, a climbing plant originally from Mexico, belongs to the cucurbitaceae family, like its cousins the pumpkin and squash. The chayote is shaped like a big pear and contains a single large pit. Its white or light green skin is covered by long furrows and sometimes a few soft spines, or at least will be smooth or rough depending on the variety.

The French West Indian name “christophine” comes from Christopher Columbus who brought it back from Central America. “Cho cho” may be a Pidgin English derivation of chayote.

The chayote’s firm white flesh has a delicate flavour reminiscent of zucchini.