What does jabuticaba taste like? Facts to know about jabuticaba
Jabuticaba! It sounds like a very interesting and exotic name, right? If you have never had a taste, you may be properly asking what does jabuticaba tastes like?
A lot of foodies were asking this particular question what does jabuticaba taste like? According to the responses, jaboticaba has a sweet and fruity taste. Its different part has distinct tastes.
Jaboticaba is also known as jabuticaba or the Brazilian grapefruit. It is derived from two Tupi words jaboti and caba which means “tortoise and place”
According to Wikipedia, this collectively means the place where tortoises are found. Jabuticaba is a fruit from the Myrtaceous family. It originates from the Brazilian tree which is popularly known for the multifunctional fruits it produces.
Jaboticaba is a purplish-black fruit from the Brazilian tree, it is multifunctional. It can be eaten raw or used in the production of different jams, juice, or wine.
The multifunctional ability should provide further insight on the topic of what does jabuticaba tastes like.
Jams, juice, and wines are mostly fruity and delicious, this signifies that jaboticaba has a sweet taste.
What does jabuticaba look like?
Jaboticaba looks very similar to grapefruits; most people constantly refer to them as tree grapes.
If you see a jaboticaba for the first time, without proper guidance or knowledge you will misplace it for a typical grapefruit.
The major difference between jabuticaba and grapefruit can be seen while they are still attached to the tree. These fruits wind around the trunks of the trees and in most cases completely cover the tree.
What does jabuticaba taste like?
Jaboticaba has different parts and these parts have unique tastes. To answer the question, what does jabuticaba taste like? you can simply say that it depends highly on the part.
Let’s begin our description from the outermost part of the fruit to the innermost part.
The dark or purplish-black part which is the skin of jaboticaba is edible, no research indicates that it is poisonous or unsafe to eat.
However, I should warn you that the skin of jaboticaba is quite thick and not exactly delicious or pleasant to eat.
The fleshy part of jaboticaba is edible, it is either pinkish or whitish. This part has a similar taste to the grapefruit, although it tastes more delicious and has more aroma than grapefruit.
It has a sweet and fruity flavor; it also has an acidic taste associated with it.
Jaboticaba also contains seeds, please note that the seeds have an extremely bitter aftertaste, therefore it is better you get rid of them.
Parts of the Brazilian tree
Most tree-bearing plants give up branches from their trunk. The branch is the part of the tree where fruits and leaves spring forth.
This is quite different for the jabuticaba or Brazilian tree, it is a cauliflory plant. This simply means that the trunk is the point where the fruits and leaves originate from.
The best soil for the Brazilian tree is slightly alkaline soil, however, it is a highly adaptable plant that grows considerably well despite the type of soil on which it grows. For a greater yield, it is best to constantly tend the tree especially if the soil is acidic.
Jabuticaba tree grows to about 13-15 meters, it is a slow-growing tree.
The flowers which grow from the trunk are whitish, the leaves are pinkish in their early developmental stage, however, they become green as they get matured.
Brazilian tree is a tropical and subtropical plant that can survive under mild and temporary cold temperatures. It has a fibrous root that keeps the plant healthy while transplanting.
The tree produces fruits and leaves approximately 4-5 times annually.
The fruit
While discussing the topic of what does jabuticaba taste like, it is best to note that we are specifically talking about the fruit and not the whole tree.
The fruit is made up of three parts;
- The thick dark purplish skin
- The whitish or pinkish inner edible part
- The seeds
The Brazilian tree produces a purplish-black fruit that has thick skin. The thick skin of jaboticaba has a herbal taste or flavour, therefore if you are not a fan of herbal products. I advise that you avoid eating the skin of jabuticabas.
The second part of the jabuticaba is the pinkish or whitish fruity part. The taste is similar to that of grape fruit; however, it is tastier than grapefruit.
Finally, the last part of jaboticaba embedded in the whitish fruity part is the seeds. The seeds are quite large in size, there are about 2-4 seeds present in an average size jaboticaba.
A slight variation exists in the number of seeds present in a jaboticaba; it is highly dependent on the size of the fruit.
Varieties of Jabuticaba
Most fruits consist of different varieties, these varieties in fruits affect their size, shape, color, and taste.
Jaboticaba is not an exception; it consists of different varieties ranging from the most popular red jaboticaba to others such as the yellow and purple jaboticaba.
One characteristic that the different varieties of jaboticaba share are the amazing and delicious flavor they all possess.
There are numerous varieties of jaboticaba, however, we will only discuss 6 varieties.
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Red jabuticaba
This is the most common variety of jaboticaba; it is widely known for its amazing taste. Unlike other varieties of jaboticaba, this type bears fruit approximately 3-4 years after planting. It is quite small in size when compared with other varieties however, it makes up for its miniature size with its amazing taste.
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White jaboticaba
Unlike the red variety, the white jaboticaba has a sour taste. If you have no tolerance for sour food or drinks, it is advisable to stick to other sweeter options.
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Purple jaboticaba (Sahara, myrciaria)
It is known to be quite popular in Brazil. It is also a very tasty variety and it is quite larger than the red jaboticaba.
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Yellow jabuticaba
The taste of this variety is like the combination of tangerines and peach. It is absolutely tasty and flavourful.
Just like the name implies, it has yellow skin. The yellow jaboticaba is also relatively small.
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Grimal Jaboticaba
A lot of people regularly confuse the grimal variety for the purple jaboticaba due to the same color they possess. To clear the confusion, always remember that the grimal variety is much larger than the purple variety.
The taste of Grimal jaboticaba is comparable to grape candy.
Uses of jaboticaba
- Jaboticaba is useful in producing jam. It is important that you discard the skin before producing your jam. In order to prevent the herbal or astringent flavor from ruining your jam.
- The skin of jam has some medicinal significance, it is useful in treating cough or asthma
- You can eat jaboticaba raw, the best way to eat one is to create a hole on the skin then suck the pinkish sweeter part.
Conclusion
It is interesting to try out a new recipe, fruit, or drink. If you are not quite familiar with jaboticaba, you should give it a try.
Jabuticaba or jaboticaba has a sweet and flavourful taste. Don’t take my word or description for it.
Visit the farmers market or the mall and purchase one or more jaboticaba.
Share your tasting experience with us in the comment section.