In The Garden WITH BROWNIE
THIS time of the year, those of us lucky enough to have a jaboticaba plant (pronounced jar-botty-car-ba) will know what a delicious treat the rest of you are missing out on.
A native of Brazil, this unusual tropical fruit tree produces sweet grape-like fruits (hence the common name) with white pulpy skins, which directly grow from the trunk and branches. The dense foliage makes it an attractive bush to grow in any garden setting, not just as a stand-alone fruit tree. It can even be clipped and grown as a food-producing hedge.
They can fruit up to four times a year, providing a great supply of fruit. But you need to be patient, as it will take 4–6 years from planting to see the first harvest. Because of the thick leaf growth, you may need to prune carefully to allow the fruit to form and ripen. Seeing the branches covered in black globes of deliciousness is a really nice surprise.
Jaboticaba trees don’t mind a bit of shade – but not too much – and are fairly drought-tolerant, making them a great all-round plant for most gardens. The fruits are usually just cooled in the fridge and eaten raw. The skins are edible, so you can eat them however you want. Or they can be cooked with the skins to make a jam or juiced as a sweet drink.
Traditionally, in Brazil, the skins are used to treat asthma and diarrhoea, and gargled for throat infections.
If you’re not in much of a rush, why not think about planting a jaboticaba tree this weekend? Then sit back, be patient, and enjoy the sweet rewards in the years to come.