I first learned about jaboticaba from The Fruit Hunter. It’s probably one of the most interesting, if not unusual fruit I’ve ever knew is in existence.

Brazil would be a fruit lovers dream destination as it’s known for it’s many variety of unique fruits, especially the Acai berries. Jaboticaba is probably loaded with vitamins just by looking at the dark purplish color of the skin.

This reminds me of modern art where someone decides to place each giant grape along the tree trunks. Image source: Wikipedia/Jabuticaba

According to the California Rare Fruit Growers, this fruit is from the same species as camu-camu. It can also be grown successfully from Florida to Hawaii. Some are also grown in southern California and also as far north as the San Jose and San Francisco Bay areas. The plant grows well as a container specimen.

The fruit is described as tasting very similar to Muscadine grapes. But the skin contains tannin so it makes your lips pucker. The real treat is probably the sweet flesh. It’s described as being delicious eaten out-of-hand. And it can be made into jellies, jams and wine.

Here is a few more info gathered fro CRF:

Growth Habit: The jaboticaba is a slow growing large shrub or small, bushy tree. It reaches a height of 10 - 15 feet in California and 12 - 45 feet in Brazil, depending on the species. The trees are profusely branched, beginning close to the ground and slanting upward and outward so that the dense, rounded crown may attain an ultimate spread as wide as it is tall. The thin, beige to reddish bark flakes off much like that of the guava.

Harvest: Jaboticaba fruits are ready to harvest when they have developed a full color and are somewhat soft like a ripe grape. By squeezing the fruit between the thumb and forefinger, one can cause the skin to split and the pulp to slip into the mouth. Jaboticaba wine is made to a limited extent in Brazil.

Common Names: Jaboticaba, Jabuticaba, Guaperu, Guapuru, Hivapuru, Sabara, Ybapuru.

I hope to someday come across this fruit. It almost looks like it came from another planet! It would an interesting sight to see Jaboticaba grown at the International Fruit Orchard in San Jose, Ca. And maybe next to the Brazilian Guava too. Speaking of the fruit orchard, I think it’s time for an orchard visit soon. So stay tuned for rare fruit photos soon!

Source: crfg.org/jaboticabas
More interesting photo of Jaboticaba fruits here.

Youtube: OKRAW gets a taste of it in Maui.