Araza Fruit, Araca Boi (Eugenia stipitata) Identification & Uses

Araza a really sour, yellow, softball sized fruit that has a thin outer peel. So thin in fact that this fruit is not exported because it travels so poorly. Its center is filled with seeds and the surrounding flesh is creamy with an extremely pleasant smell.

The Araza fruit is so high in vitamin C that oranges go to it when they have a cold! Seriously!
We are told that Tico’s cook araza with rice and also use it to make a delicious ice cream. We, so far, only use it for smoothies. I absolutely love everything about this fruit, taste and texture included. There are 6 fruiting trees on our farm in Matina and two more recent additions that should be fruiting in 2 to 3 years. The tree produces fruit four times a year so there is seldom a time that we are without it.

How do we use it? In a smoothie, of course

Because the fruit is tart we always add a sweet fruit such as bananas or mangos (depending on what is in season), passion fruit yogurt and sometimes honey to the smoothies, add cacao nibs to the mix and the flavor is out of this world.

Barry just made an awesome hot pepper jam using araza and our habaneros. It’s great with cream cheese on a cracker.

Araza Fruit Hot Pepper Jelly 

2 cup Araza (peeled and de-seeded)
1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Habanero Peppers (use gloves when de-seeding these can burn your skin and eyes)
4 cups Sugar
3 Limes (juiced)

Put everything in a big pot and cookdown. After 30 min. put a dab on a cold plate in the freezer, if thickens then mixture is ready to jar.