Aruba grows her own fruits and veggies and there are some pretty out-of-space local species you may never had heard of, but really healthy and delicious. Currently there are two fruits that are currently in season: the ‘tamarijn’ and ‘macapruim’.
Tamarijn (Tamarind)
A delicious, sweet and sour fruit that has a wide variety of uses and applications, both for medicinal and culinary purposes. It is a medium-sized bushy tree with evergreen leaves and fruit that develops in pods characterized by long, brown shells. Inside is a sticky, fleshy, juicy pulp, which is the Tamarind fruit. Both sweet and sour in taste, the fruit contains a significant level of vitamin C, as well as vitamin E, B vitamins, calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber. There are also a number of organic compounds that make tamarind a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Season: March-May.
Macapruim (red mombin)
This tiny apple-looking fruit is related to the cashew fruit. It’s common in tropical countries in South America and the Caribbean. Its tree does not hold many leaves when the fruit is in season, giving an appearance of a dried out tree, adorned with red Christmas balls. The Macapruim seed is quite large for such a tiny looking fruit, but when ripe, the flesh tastes sweet and juicy, with a thick peel that’s almost crunchy when you bite into it. Aruban grown macapruims are not really sold in supermarkets; the ones you do find tend to hail from Venezuela. Macapruims are a great source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and have a small amount of fiber. They contain carotene, B-complex vitamins, and several important amino acids. They are also high in antioxidants, which help cleans the body. Season: April-August.
