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June 22, 2005
Kenepas, Part Deux
Following up on the yesterday's sighting of kenepas (also known as genipa, quenepa, mamoncillo, or Spanish lime), these are small fruits of Melicoccus bijugatus, a tropical tree. The dark green skin looks like that of a lime, but the resemblance ends there, as it can be neatly cracked open between the teeth with a soft bite.
Once hatched, inside is a large seed covered with a peach-colored layer of sticky, gummy flesh. The taste is sweet-sour, and leaves your tongue with a little of that "furry" feeling some fruits can give you.
Posted by Josh Friedland on Jun 22, 2005 in Street Fare | Permalink
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Comments
Those are cool! I've never come across them before. I think Summer is the time for unusual fruit. I just wrote about kumquats and am planning to write about lychees and rambutans too.
Posted by: Cooking with Amy at Jun 22, 2005 1:11:47 PM
I've seen these summer after summer but finally decided to buy some after a Dominican friend assured me they were edible and, indeed, delicious. They have a very interesting taste but the texture is extraordinary. When you chew the pulp, it solidifies into something between chewing gum and chewed meat! They are highly addictive, too.
Posted by: D at Jun 22, 2005 1:17:17 PM
Interestingly, lychee and rambutan seem to be part of the same fruit species, Sapindaceae. OK, that's about the extent of my fruit science research . . .
Posted by: Josh at Jun 23, 2005 5:42:49 PM
Fruit is pretty amazing in the summer. I love to find new fruits at ethnic grocers in NYC because its stuff I've never tried. Usually I try to ask the vendors what to do with them--it's not always evident.
Lychees are probably my favorite june fruit. While I'm in taiwan for the summer, I've been trying new fruits and packaged foods that have uncommont fruit flavors)--quite frankly the only saving grace for being in Taiwan during the hottest time of the year is the incredible selection of fruit.
I'm going to try to put up some pics soon along with my post.
Posted by: Rose at Jun 24, 2005 5:57:57 AM
wow! these are amazing...
what do they taste like?
Posted by: Alvin Narsey at Jun 27, 2005 10:51:49 PM
Well im Puerto Rican and this fruit is a really big part of the spanish heritage, and trust me they are the best if you haven't tried them. I love guinepas
Posted by: Howard at Jun 17, 2006 9:59:46 PM
where can I get them? I live in NJ
Posted by: holly at Apr 30, 2007 6:08:17 PM
Where can I find them? My daugther tasted one from a girlfriend, that she no longer goes to school with, and we can't find them anywhere. I'm in Chicago and if anyone knows where I can get them please let me know.
Posted by: Rhonda at Jun 18, 2007 11:56:35 AM
Please tell me where I can find them, I smuggled 1 left over accidentally from my trip to PR and planted the seed in the back yard. Wishful thinking. I live in Bklyn, NY. Where can I find em?
Posted by: Brenda at Jul 8, 2008 8:39:32 PM
I just got a batch from a co-worker's sister who stays in NY. They are Puerto Rican and believe any of the real Hispanic markets should carry them. I'm excited. I haven't had them since a mid 90's trip to NY.
Posted by: Reynaldo at Jul 15, 2008 8:17:21 PM
These are the best! They take me right back to by childhood. My grandparents had a tree on their property in Puerto Rico and we would pick them by the bag full. Here is a tip to purchasing good Kenepas, the skin should be taut and glossy, if the skin is dull and wrinkly they are past their peak. P.S. they will stain your clothes and fingers if you're not careful.
Posted by: Melba Gomez at Aug 7, 2008 3:35:32 PM
