I learned to call it sharifa, but the custard apple is also called Sita- phal in North India, linking it to the Ramayana mythology. Paul Kekai Manansala points out that his particular fruit may be a possible link indicating pre- Columbian encounters between India and America.

The discovery of custard apple seed at the Neolithic site of Tokwa is very early, but it would tend to confirm other previous identifications of fruit coat and seeds respectively at Kushan and Iron Age Punjab sites. Custard apples appear to be represented artistically at the 3rd-1st century BCE Sunga dynasty sites of Bharhut, Mathura and Sanchi, identifications made originally by Sitholey and Cunningham.

The authors also mention the archaeological identification of various American beans e.g., the kidney bean or common bean (Phaselous vulgaris), sierra bean (Phaseolus lunatus) and phasemy bean (Phaseolus lathyroides) in peninsular India and a weed Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana) in Uttara Pradesh, all from very early sites.