Sometimes referred to as the Maya fruit, the Canistel is said to be native to Campeche, Mexico and other parts of Mesoamerica. It is often used in ice cream, custard style pies, and other dairy-based desserts because the fruit does not cause dairy products to curdle or sour. They have a dry, yet sticky texture reminiscent of a hardboiled egg yolk and a sweet potato, pumpkin flavor. Found at Robert is Here and Fairchild Gardens in Homesead, FL. Photos by Chris Mathews.
Believed to be native to the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico, these are the fruit of the tree that was used to make the original gum (chicle) made from latex derived from the bark. One of my favorite fruits, these guys taste like root beer and caramel with a slightly grainy texture and are about the size of a Roma Tomato. These are a must try. Found at Robert is Here and Fairchild Farms in Homestead, FL. Photos by Chris Mathews.
Native to Central and South America, and the Caribbean, these look quite a bit like a key lime, but once you open them up they are like a lychee that melted and got slimy with a sweet / tart citrus flavored flesh that sticks to the seed in the middle. Once you start sucking on them it seems like some of the slimly flesh gets stuck in your throat. Found at Robert is Here, Homestead, FL. Photos by Chris Mathews.
Native to the tropical areas of the Americas, sugar apples are in the cherimoya (Annona) and soursop family. About the size of a baseball these guys have a sweet, soft, juicy, grainy flesh and a slight floral flavor around hard seeds. They are eaten by squeezing the fruit in the center, causing the segmented skin to spread open. Found at an unnamed fruit stand in Homestead, FL. Photo by Chris Mathews.
Native to the southeastern United States, Muscadine grapes are also known as American wild grapes. The bronze colored cultivar are referred to as Scuppernong and have a slightly milder flavor than the dark variety. About the size of a large cherry tomato they have a thick skin a few hard seeds and a flavor similar to a concord grape with a hints of musky / resin, and a slightly bitter skin. Found at Publix "greenwise" in Boca Raton Fl. Photo by Chris Mathews
