What is a carambola?

A carambola is a tropical tree that is grown in a variety of geographical regions including Asia, Central America, South America, the Caribbean islands, and in the United States, commonly in California and Florida. It is thought to have originated south of India, in Sri Lanka, and in the Moluccas. Because it grows in many places throughout the world, carambola is known by many names including bilimbi, kamrakh, spu, nak fuang, and kambola to name a few. It is also popularly called starfruit because of the unique shape of its fruit that resembles a star.