Mamey, known sometimes as mamey sapote or just sapote, is a type of tropical fruit native to the Caribbean and Central America. It is cultivated in tropical regions in the Americas including Southern Florida, and is very popular among many Caribbean and Central American peoples. The firm, juicy flesh is usually eaten fresh, and appears in drinks, desserts, or on its own. In tropical regions, the fruit is readily available in fresh form at many marketplaces, and can sometimes also be picked wild.

The mamey tree grows up to 140 feet (45 meters) in height if allowed to grow undisturbed. Generally, the trees are cultivated through cuttings, ensuring that the traits of parent trees are passed on to the offspring. However, mamey can also grow from seed, leading to large amounts of trees growing wild in the tropics. In some regions, the roadside is littered with mamey trees, thanks to consumers who discard the seeds after they have eaten the flesh of the fruit.

The fruit of the mamey is pink, and roughly oblong to circular in size. Large specimens can measure around 10 inches (25 centimeters) in length. The seed is toxic, and found in the center of the fruit. Toxic extracts from the mamey seed are used in a variety of applications, including as an insecticide. The outside of a mamey is leathery, and it should yield slightly when it is ripe. When peeled back, the rind will reveal intensely pink, slightly soft flesh, indicating that it can be eaten.

In many areas, mamey is eaten fresh right out of the rind. The flavor is somewhat difficult to describe, but it has been compared to pumpkins, chocolate, sweet potato, and vanilla. Lemon or lime juice can be squeezed over slices of fresh mamey, or it can be mixed with other fruits. It is also blended for use in drinks and desserts. Mamey ice cream, in particular, is a uniquely flavored delicacy in the tropics.

It can be difficult to acquire mamey outside of the tropics. If you live outside a tropical region and see mamey for sale, look for evenly colored specimens with no areas of extreme softness. The stems should be clipped short to the fruit, and if possible, ask to cut the fruit open so that you can see the flesh inside. A high quality mamey will be creamy and sweet, while lesser versions will be either cloying or intensely bitter.