Jaboticaba fruit is the FNQ Tree Cherry

Exotic Jaboticaba fruit (FNQ Tree Cherry)

Jaboticaba Fruit Tree or Myrciaria Cauliflora

Another Cassowary Coast exotic fruit is the jaboticaba fruit tree, a slow-growing bush native to southern Brazil.

Just recently introduced into tropical Far North Queensland, and showing lots of untapped commercial value for the farmers.

The jaboticaba fruit tree or bush is unusual in that it produced all its fruit directly on the trunk making it a striking looking tree. The black round black marble like looking fruit are very sweet with an edible thin, but very tough skin.

The fruit’s striking colour and delicate flavour imparts unique qualities to jams and wines.

In FNQ, this compact fruit tree makes it an ideal backyard fruit tree that provides large quantities of delicious and sweet fruits.

Jaboticaba Characteristics

Jaboticaba has a purple-black, tough skin with a translucent flesh and is similar in texture to a grape.

The fruit have an average size of 2.5 cm in diameter, but can vary from 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm depending on crop size and on the availability of water and nutrients.

Jaboticaba Taste

Sweet and slightly aromatic with a pleasant grape-like flavour.

Buying and Storing Jaboticaba

Choose sound fruit that are full and not shriveled or too soft. They can be frozen whole.

Preparing and Serving Jaboticaba

The fruit is delicious eaten fresh and out of the hand. It can be made into jellies, jams and wine, where the high – sometimes bitter – quantities of tannin contribute to the deep red colour.

Frozen fruit can be used as a garnish in fruit salads.

Family: Myrciaria cauliflora
Scientific name: Plinia cauliflora

The Myrciaria species are native to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia in South America