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Given that avos cost a small fortune, and even more so during certain times of the year, I am always gravely disappointed to slice one open and find that the pip accounts for about 60% of the weight.

These are tough, trying, unprecedented times (ticking all the clichéd boxes), so being swindled like that when there’s no way of knowing beforehand feels a touch harsh.

Then there is the so-called ‘Avozilla’, a South African trademarked avo, which is proving very popular across the pond in the UK.

(Not to be confused with the ‘Helenzilla’, which is said to be the cause of much infighting in the DA on our shores.)

Before we get to the reaction from abroad, more on the Avozilla via info:

This exciting cultivar originated in South Africa and has an average weight of 1,2 kg, in comparison with the 200-250gr of a normal avocado!

Despite some confusion on the matter, the Avozilla is NOT a genetically-modified avocado and has not been treated with any growth-enhancing chemicals.

A Westfalia farmer found the feral mother-tree growing in the lush natural forest around Modjadjiskloof, Limpopo, in South Africa. Avozilla is a natural monster fruit with superb eating quality.

To explain how this extraordinary avocado came into being, avocados have three races (sub-species), and Avozilla is a cross between two of these races. The West Indian race of avocados does grow especially large, but the fruit are typically watery and slightly sweet. The Guatemalan race has the typical buttery, nutty taste to which most consumers are accustomed. Avozilla is a cross between these two races, meaning the eating quality is superior to the typical ‘butter pear’ (a pure West Indian variety) and it is also more disease resistant.

Westfalia Fruit has trademarked ‘Avozilla’, and the demand for them is sizeable. In order to keep up, Westfalia is now planting additional trees to supply more fruit.

According to Business Insider SA, they can reach up to 1,7kg in weight, and this year’s yield averaged around 1,5kg.

Earlier this month, the Avozillas touched down in the UK, and are now being sold at Tesco stores.

Some of the reaction from the UK has been quite amusing. Here’s the Independent:

Tesco chilled salad and avocado buyer Jordan Blandford, said: “These amazing whoppers are guaranteed to stop anyone in their tracks.

“The fruit is extremely rare and comes from just a relatively small number of trees grown by one of the world’s biggest suppliers of avocados, in South Africa.”

That’s Blandford up top, holding a regular avo and one of the “whoppers”.

How about the sticker up close?

Great marketing.

The Daily Mail, in classic Boomer fashion, went with the headline “Millennials will need a bigger piece of toast as giant 4lb avocados weighing nine times more than an ordinary fruit hit supermarket shelves tomorrow” when announcing the news.

Here’s one tipping the scales:

Business Insider SA also captured this superb sponsored post, from Tesco Ireland’s Instagram account:

Well played, Tesco.

At £4 a pop (around R85 at the current exchange rate), they don’t come cheap, but neither do regular avos.

As long as the pip inside plays ball, then I say long may the avo revolution continue.

[sources:iifno&businessinsider&independent]