We have been encouraged by dieticians to have at least four to five servings of fruit per day. Living in Trinidad however, makes this an easy feat as we are surrounded by a number of tropical fruits.
While we have easy access to fruits such as peaches, pears, apples and grapes to name a few, none of these compare to tropical fruits which are native to my country. Here is a list of five of my personal favourites.
Chennette
This tiny fruit grows in bunches and is covered by a green, rough but thin skin. Inside the fruit is a large seed covered by a sweet or sometimes tart pulp. The pulp is usually orange or peach coloured and soft and jelly-like in texture. To eat, just break the skin and eat the pulp off the seed. It is also perfect for chow – just dash some salt, pepper, chadon beni and voila. The pulp paired with limes can also be used to make a refreshing juice drink. Children are normally not permitted to eat this fruit without an adult present as it could easily slip down the throat of a young child.
Passion Fruit
This delicious fruit grew in my backyard as a child. I could distinctly remember as they became bright yellow we would pick them and eat them as they were. Sometimes we would add some sugar to get rid of the tangy taste. The bright orange pulp of this fruit can be diluted in water and mixed with sugar to make one of the tastiest and most refreshing drinks ever.
Chataigne
This fruit looks very much like a breadfruit, the only difference is the pickery surface of the green skin of the fruit. The fruit comprises of white pulp texture that surrounds brown seeds. Both parts of the fruit can be eaten, but my favourite part of the fruit is the seeds which are boiled in salt water and eaten. My dad would bring home just the seeds and we would eagerly await our portions to chow down on. With eagerness the brown outer shell is quickly removed and the off-white interior of the nut is exposed and eaten.
Guava
Recently I stumbled upon one of my favourite fruits in the market. The vendor had only a few guavas left and though they were quite expensive at ($4TT) for one, I had to have them all. When I was a child I ate this till I could eat no more. Guavas are usually yellow when ripe with a pink or white fleshy interior and many seeds. The fruit is pretty versatile and can be eaten raw, made into juices and even stewed to make jams and even cheese.
Mango
These have to be one of the most loved tropical fruits ever and represent everything that we expect from a fruit. It’s easily accessible and absolutely tasty. There are dozens of varieties of mangoes available in Trinidad with differing shapes, tastes and consistencies. My absolute favourite is the Starch, it is sweet and bursting with flavour. Mangoes are green and yellow when ripe. This fruit is also very versatile and can be eaten ripe, cut into pieces for chow or chutney or blended to make a delightful juice drink. I have even stumbled upon a number of mango flavoured candles.
I know I said that I would only list five of my favourites but I must make honourable mention of the following fruits: Soursop, Pineapple, Watermelon, Padoo, Pawpaw, Pomerac and Chinee Tambran. I love you and could not imagine my fruit life without you all.
