As the dry season ends a lot of the fruiting trees are now ripe with lots of wonderful exotic fruits many of which I have never seen much less eaten . And Mango trees are considered a “junk tree” here because there are so many of them and they are really dirty when they drop all their fruit. Above is a picture about 2 blocks from our house with the ground littered with mangos. The young boys in the neighborhood split their time between skateboarding and throwing things into the trees to bring down mangos. There are as many types of mangos as there are wine grapes and we have quickly become discerning eaters. Only the biggest, sweetest mangos touch these lips since eating a mango is always a messy but worthwhile experience. I guess that is why they call them “exotic fruits” 'cause you have to get involved with the fruit to eat it. I have not yet learned a way to eat a mango that does not end in washing my face and hands afterward.
In addition to mangos there are lots of other strange and exotic fruits we had never seen before……Mocambo, Star Fruit, Maracuya, Guanabanas, giant papaya, Panama Berry, Alligator Pear and lots more. Many of those trees are prized and protected but still the birds and iguanas get a lot of the crop. Not only do we need to learn the names but also how to pick, ripen, juice, puree, barbeque (yes!) and just plain eat all of them.
In our back yard is a producing avocado tree with probably 200 fruit on it. Seems every one in the neighborhood knows it is there, since it is an old tree. Last week a woman up the street who I only know to say hello ask if I would give her some. I said yes as soon as they were a little bigger. So I guess this is the season to win friends and influence people with fruit.
