The jabuticaba is quite an intriguing fruit tree native to the lush rainforests of Brazil. Its botanical name is Plinia cauliflora, but the Brazilian Portugueses call it jabuticaba, meaning “like grapes”. The peculiar thing about this tropical tree is that it bears its fruits directly on its trunk and branches rather than at the ends.
When mature, the jabuticaba tree sprouts thick, blackish-purple fruits along its bark that resemble grapes, hence the name. Jabuticabas have a smooth, purple skin that encases a pulpy white flesh and one to four seeds. They impart a sweet, mild flavour with notes of grape and apple. In Brazil, jabuticabas are often used to make jams, wines, liqueurs, and juices.
The jabuticaba makes for a hardy ornamental tree in tropical climates like Brazil, producing fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers before its fruiting season. However, it’s sensitive to frost and requires humid, warm conditions with mild winters to thrive. It prefers slightly acidic soil and regular watering. Well-suited to container growing, in fact.
So there you have it, a bit of insight on the Evergreen Grape Tree, as it’s sometimes called in English. A most unorthodox fruit-bearer, but then again, variety is the spice of life.
Text © Earth Unreal
