Description: The jocote is a popular fruit in central America and the Caribbean. The fruit is an oval shape and about 4-6cm long, has a thin skin which is purple-red or yellow when ripe, and a single stone. When the fruit is of advanced maturity, the flesh is very sweet and juicy, but often it is quite sour and acidic. It can be eaten fresh (ripe or unripe), squeezed for juice or preserved. When of low maturity, it is often eaten with salt, vinegar or lime juice.
The fruit are borne on a small deciduous tree which drops its leaves in the dry season.
In Mexico, there are reports that the jocote tree is being planted in areas suffering from soil erosion (from www.freshportal.com).
Family: Anacardiaceae (Cashews)
Species: Spondias purpurea
Names: There are many names for jocote, a selection of which are: mombin, red mombin, Spondia mobin, Spanish plum, Ciruela, Hog plum, etc.
Origin: Spondias purpurea is native to the tropical regions of central and south America.
Grown in: Jocote is now grown in many tropical countries, including Nigeria and Philippines, but is most popular in the tropical areas of central and southern America.
Harvest: Examples:
- Costa Rica: August – September
- Ecuador:
- El Salvador: April to August
- Mexico:
- Nicaragua: There are two principal species of jocote, both with a large number of different varieties (the total number of varieties in Nicaragua is estimated at 50). One of the species, the yellow jocote, is harvested during the rainy season (July to September); and the other, the red jocote, is mostly available in the dry season (from ViaNica.com).
Storage:
Ripening:
Availability: Countries of origin of jocote sold in UK:
- January:
- February:
- March:
- April:
- May:
- June:
- July:
- August:
- September:
- October:
- November:
- December:
Nutrition: Jocote are high in antioxidants and a natural source of Vitamin C.
©Good Fruit Guide 2017. Recommendations on fruit varieties and types with the very best taste are personal to the editor of Good Fruit Guide, and do not attempt to be exhaustive or supported by verifiable consumer research. The highlighting of fruit with the very best taste in the opinion of the editor is not intended as a judgement on the taste of varieties and types of fruit not mentioned.
