Many plant species are overlooked for their health value due to lack of financial incentives. Most natural product research is market-driven. This can explain the limit information available about the health effects of the edible fruit species Melicoccus bijugatus. Quenepa grows naturally in the tropics, mostly in the Caribbean and South America.
Known by many names this exotic tropical fruit is an interesting, flavorful, fantastically nutritious little treat.
It is called: Spanish lime, ackee, genipe, limoncillo, mamoncillo, honeyberry, or any of its other monikers. The yellow/orange pulpy fruit tastes a bit like a cross between a lime and a lychee.
Taste of the Tropics
The taste of the quenepa can range from sweet to sour. The sour variation is usually eaten with chili pepper, lime, and salt. To eat the sweet just as it is, you should gnaw through the outer shell and sucking out the succulent inside—like a lychee.
The nutrition of the quenepa is exciting. It contains vitamins (A, B complex, and C), minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and iron), proteins, phytonutrients, fatty and amino acids (tryptophan and lysine the most notable) and fiber.
Roasted seeds contain antioxidants and antifungal properties. They have been used to treat diarrhea. Just only grind into flour and mixed with water.
Fruit and pulp are antibacterial and antifungal. Healing for:
- Aid digestion,
- Relieve asthma and other respiratory ailments – the escort of chronic asthma are often electrolyte deficiencies, of which phosphorus is one,
- Treat constipation,
- Reduce cholesterol levels,
- Balance blood sugar levels,
- Also can alleviate herpes labialis and simplex over high lysine content,
- Helping for fall asleep vis à vis high tryptophan content. Tryptophan is a hormone that regulates sleep, with producing the serotonin.
This fruit is a support for every part of your body. Quenepa fruits you can eat as-is, juiced or made into a delicious jam.
- 1 inch piece ginger, blended and strained
- 2 pounds quenepas, peeled
- 1 quart water
- Honey to taste (unpasteurized, unfiltered, local)
- 1 lime, juiced
How to prepare:
Boil the water while you remove the quenapas’ skin and put them into a large bowl.
You should pour the boiling water over the fruit. Leave it for 20 minutes or until cool.
Using your hands, rub the pulp from the seeds. Then massage all the fruits to get the flesh and juice released in the water.
Strain the mixture and add the lime juice. Sweeten to taste. Keep in the refrigerator.
Enjoy the sunny, healthful taste of the quenepa.