We stopped at Tropical Fruit World (a research station/tourist park) and got a chance to sample some exotic fruits. Jack fruit is the size of an average person's head. Once you cut it in half the parts you eat kind of tastes like bubble gum. You have to be careful not to get the stuff you don't eat in your hair because it won't come out for days! Custard apples are really sweet and gooey and taste like, well, custard and apple pie filling. Babaco are a very very juicy fruit that looks like a squared cucumber, and while a rollinia looks pointy to the touch, it is actually quite soft and tastes a bit like lemon meringue pie. We tried some paw-paw (papaya- a bit sour and bitter) with a sauce made from black sapote (known as the chocolate fruit) and it was actually quite yummy. The fellow told us that you have to be careful when handling freshly picked paw-paw because the inside of the flesh of the fruit can burn human skin! We also ate some star fruit and learned all about the wonders of the avocado and had some really good guacamole dip that he made as he talked. We may have to go again when different fruit are in season !

All photos are copyright (c)1999 Andy and Andrea Morrison.
(except where specified)