Fruit of the Month: Jocote

Tart and delicious, the jocote fruit is in season from August to September in Costa Rica. Many locals prefer to eat them unripe, adding a touch of salt. I find the green jocotes a little too bitter, and wait until they're almost red, which equals sweet and juicy goodness. The jocote goes by many monikers around the globe: purple mombin, red mombin, hog plum, and sinigwela to name a few, but I just call them tasty. A member of the cashew family, Spondias purpurea is a flowering plant native to the tropical Americas.

Last updated: Oct 22, 2023