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| Famous Caribbean Fruits |
) The naseberry is native to Central America and the Caribbean. The Indians of Mexico originally called the tree 'sapodilla', a name that is retained in many parts of the region. The fruit is round in shape and has a reddish brown skin. When ripe, the fleshy pulp may be eaten or used to make custard and ice-cream. The early Indians chewed the rubbery sap of the tree, which they called 'chicle' and it was this - with the addition of massive amounts of sugar - that New Yorker Thomas Adams managed to make into successful commercial product - chewing gum. | ) The wide varieties of orange include Valencia, Parson Brown, Hamlin, Navel, Pineapple, Mandarin, Kumquat, King, and other sweet varieties. There is a bitter orange called Seville, which is used for making marmalade. Ortanique, a hybrid combination of orange and tangerine, is popular in Jamaica. |
) The Otaheite Apple (maple apple) is a native of the Pacific Islands. The juicy, shiny red fruit has one large seed and is usually ovoid shaped. The fruit makes an excellent jam when stewed with brown sugar and ginger. | ) The flavourful translucent sop is scooped out of the hollow husks of the passion fruit for a delightful taste experience. Passion fruit juice is a preferred thirst quencher. |
) The pawpaw originated in Panama and is indigenous to the Caribbean and Central America. Ripe pawpaw can be served in several ways - the most popular being to cut the unpeeled fruit and remove the seeds, and then use a spoon to scoop out the sweet and juicy flesh. A light sprinkling of lime juice complements the taste. The ripe fruit may also be processed into juice, puree or jams, while the green fruit is used for sauces and pickles. | ) This popular fruit is a native of Central and South America and was introduced to the West Indies by the Spanish who also took the plant to Europe. Pineapples can be eaten or crushed to make juice. The fruit is as an ingredient or garnish in many cocktails. |
) The soursop is ovoid in shape, covered with short , soft spines dark green in colour, changing to a pale green when ripe. The pulp of the fruit is white, of a 'woolly' texture and pleasantly acidic. The juice is used to make a delightful ice cream or iced drink. | ) The Star Apple is a native of the Greater Antilles, including Jamaica, and was introduced from these islands to the rest of the tropical world. When cut crossways, the fruit reveals a star-shaped pattern. Star Apple is frequently combined with oranges and condensed milk to form a dessert called 'Matrimony' |
) It was sugar which brought African slaves to the West Indies as well as the indentured labour of Indians and Chinese. The diverse inter-racial mix of the region is related to sugar cane and the part it has played in our history. Sugar cane is eaten raw, crushed to make cane juice, and of course processed into white rum. | ) This heart shaped fruit has a peculiar appearance - the entire surface being divided into small, knobbly scales that break away separately when the fruit is ripe, exposing the creamy, sweet custard-like pulp which encloses small black seeds. |
) The segmented pod of the tamarind hardens on maturity into a brittle shell which houses three or four small seeds embedded in a tart pulp. The pulp is mixed with sugar to make tamarind balls, a popular confectionery, and can also be mixed with water, and sugar or honey to make a rich drink. | ) A member of the citrus family, tangerines have a rougher more pliable skin than oranges which does not require peeling and which can be easily broken to reveal the large, juicy pegs inside. |
) A relative of the cantaloupe, the watermelon provides an overwhelmingly juicy mouthful with every bite. The fruit is also blended into a refreshing drink.
| ) The Breadfruit was originally grown in the South Seas - being a native of Polynesia. The breadfruit is a large tree that grows widely in Jamaica, but was unknown here before 1793. Its arrival is one of Jamaica’s romantic stories. The first attempt to introduce the breadfruit was made at a time when many slaves were dying of starvation. |
) Water Lemon (Passiflora Laurifolia) Medium sized, ovaloid fruit, usually with a deep orange skin and white-yellow, extremely juicy pulp. The water lemon has an excellent perfumy-mild taste, without the tartness of the common passion fruit. A not widely known, and very underrated passion fruit.
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