Fruits In Puerto Rico Not Found In The U S

The rainbow of tropical fruits available in Puerto Rico offer unique flavors.

Puerto Rican cuisine draws influences from a variety of world cultures. From Spain to Africa and back to the Americas, Puerto Rican food is a fiesta of flavors. Fresh tropical fruits are an important staple in the Puerto Rican diet, and the island nation cultivates a plethora of unique fruits.

Chironja

The chironja is a fruit native to Puerto Rico.

The chironja or orangelo is a hybrid fruit which originated in Puerto Rico. A cross between an orange and grapefruit, the chironja was originally discovered in the trees providing shade for the coffee plantations in the Puerto Rican highlands. The fruit is often eaten in the same manor as a grapefruit (cut in half and eaten with a spoon), yet is easier to peel and has a sweeter taste.

Chrysophyllum Cainito

The Chrysophyllum cainito is a tropical tree found in the lowlands of Central America and the West Indies. It grows rapidly and can grow to more than 60 feet in height. It has several common names including cainito, caimito, golden leaf tree, star apple, abiaba, estrella, pomme du lait, aguay and milk fruit. It is a round, purple fruit, often green around the calyx, with a distinct star pattern on the pulp. The fruits are often chilled and served for dessert and touted for their antioxidant content.

Custard-Apple

The custard-apple, also known as the bull's heart or bullock's heart, is the fruit of the Annona reticulata tree. The fruits vary in shape, irregular and oblong; ranging in size from about 3 inches to 6 inches. When ripe, the fruit is yellowish or brown with reddish highlights.

Soursop

The soursop (Annona muricata) is a broad-leaved, evergreen native to tropical climates. The fruit adapted to extremely humid climates with warm winters: temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit will damage the leaves, and temperatures below 38 degrees Fahrenheit are fatal to the soursop. In these detrimental temperatures, the fruit becomes dry and is no longer good.

The soursop's flavor has been described as a combination of pineapple and strawberry with a distinct sour citrus flavor in contrast with an underlying creamy flavor.

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