Brazilian tropical fruits

List your top 5 favorite fruits.

If you ever have the opportunity of visiting Brazil you are going to be in for a treat! The fruits grown there are delicious! Make a point of visiting a farmer’s market, and you will not be disappointed. You will find the most fresh, ripe and succulent fruits in the world. It took me to change countries to realize that. There are tasty fruits here in Canada as well. I especially enjoy the berries, peaches, and apples. But, I miss the ones I had there. Brazilian tropical fruits are unparalleled.

Maracujá, or passion fruit

Every day at my lunch time I used to ask for a freshly squeezed passion fruit juice. The one I’m thinking about is yellow, has a tangy, tropical flavor and it’s rich in vitamin C. Its acidity and flavor are much more pronounced than the purple or red ones that I found here. I have never seen in Canada the same kind of passion fruit that we have in Brazil. I’m sure that the day the Great White North discovers it, they will fall in love.

Mexerica

A Brazilian term for a type of tangerine (also called mandarina or bergamota in other regions). It has a loose, easy-to-peel orange skin, sweet and slightly tart juicy segments, and a fresh citrus aroma. You can just peel and eat it right out of the rind. Alternatively, you can squeeze it and make a delicious juice. Either way, it’s sweet, citrusy and aromatic.

Cupuaçu

A large, brown, melon-like fruit from the Amazon, related to cacao. Inside is a creamy white pulp with a unique flavor—a mix of chocolate, banana, and pineapple. It’s used in sweets, juices, and cosmetics. I remember the first time I tried it. It was in a community lunch event where there were some people from Pará, a state in the Amazon region. They brought both cupuaçu mousse, and bonbons filled with cupuaçu cream. It pairs perfectly with chocolate.

Acerola

Acerola juice is good by itself, but it gets perfect when mixed with orange juice! That’s the way I love it. Acerola is small, bright red cherry-like fruit with a tart, refreshing flavor. Extremely rich in vitamin C (one of the highest natural sources), it’s often used in juices, smoothies, and supplements. Drink it ice-cold, it’s extremely refreshing!

Mango

A tropical stone fruit with smooth skin (yellow, red, or green), juicy golden-orange flesh, and a sweet, fragrant flavor. It varies from fibrous to buttery depending on the variety and is widely enjoyed fresh or in desserts and drinks. It’s not original from Brazil, but its tropical climate is perfect for growing it. The most common variety there is the manga rosa, or pink mango. The fruit is perfect by itself. But my mango chutney and my mango and passion fruit jam are famous in my family events!

I hope you have a chance to make a tasting flight of Brazilian tropical fruits. Although not all of the ones I mentioned are original from Brazil, the climate there is perfect for them. I’m suspect to say, but I highly recommend!